Doxing

[Lorence.xD]

Disclaimer: I do not condone nor tolerate the actions by forum members, I am just trying to make sure that people are aware about the topic and that it has legal repercussions.

Doxing the practice of researching and broadcasting any identifying info in public.

My concern is most topics in investigations doxxed potential scammers, I believe that everyone is innocent until proven guilty and I see this as a pretty alarming thing because if it is tolerated here then I am scared that someone with ill-intent might use the doxxing in the forum as a scapegoat for their actions despite forum members doing it with the ill intent behind. Wouldn't it be better if we report the details to authorities instead of putting it in the forum. The doxxed identity has a legal leverage which can negate the accusations.

Hopefully, everyone can understand what I want to say, this can happen to anyone and everyone here for sure cares about privacy.

PS. I feel that this might not belong here so let me know if I should delete it or move it.

[malevolent]

This topic belongs in Meta.

It used to be possible to include dox outside this inaccessible-to-most section, I really don't think there's anything wrong with how things are now. Authorities aren't always able or willing to solve problems, and doxing can allow for easier spotting of various scammers.

[Lorence.xD]

This topic belongs in Meta.

It used to be possible to include dox outside this inaccessible-to-most section, I really don't think there's anything wrong with how things are now. Authorities aren't always able or willing to solve problems, and doxing can allow for easier spotting of various scammers.

Thank you for moving this topic to where it should be.

I believe in fair justice and privacy, that is the reason why I do not like the idea of doxing. Yeah, I agree in regards to authorities not doing shit about this thing especially if it is a small scale and hydra-like (cut another, two will grow back), sometimes they value their time to accomodate big cases and/or their paygrade/department budget not enough (fuckin' bureaucracy right?). But here is the case that scares me the most, in the vast sea of Internet, you will encounter a lot of people (hungry sharks) that when you drop someone's private information and you sprinkle it with the rage-inducing story that the doxxed person is a scammer/pedo or any bad things that you can think of, these sharks will be out for blood. You will never know if someone will exact mob justice to the doxxed person because as we all know, when bad people are dropped in the cyber water, the sharks of the Internet will be out for blood.

I do care a lot about privacy and I think no matter what you've done, other people that are not in authority should respect that privilege. Best thing to do is file a case report if you can. Internet is hungry for bad people and feeding them will not make it any better.

[Upgrade00]

I do care a lot about privacy and I think no matter what you've done, other people that are not in authority should respect that privilege. Best thing to do is file a case report if you can.

I agree with this. Scams are unmoderated on the forum, so there is no system to confirm that someone indeed committed a violation besides evidence posted and judged by other members. The scam accusation board should be the first section to report scams and based on evidence provided, a negative feedback or trust flag can suffice.
Only extreme cases should be taken to the Investigations child board. Such cases could involve;
• Someone who is impersonating another individual. Proving who the person really is would indemnify the other party,
• Someone who is an immediate threat to the public, etcetera...

Authorities aren't always able or willing to solve problems, and doxing can allow for easier spotting of various scammers.

This is true about authorities in some situations, but imo, legal action is still a relevant step to take before posting someone's private information on a public forum. The internet never forgets, and even if the person is later proven to not be guilty of a crime, they cannot regain their privacy.

[The Sceptical Chymist]

Authorities aren't always able or willing to solve problems

That's a candidate for the understatement of the year award.

I haven't given doxxing much thought, but sometimes I think it's completely appropriate, as in the case of Master-P from a couple of years back.  I don't even know if that ever came to any resolution, but while the situation was going on it was obvious that a scam was being perpetrated and the community was past the point of presumption of innocence.  It was important that his victims knew his real identity and some details in case they wanted to involve law enforcement or whatever.

As long as the dox doesn't contain nonpublic information, like SS# or bank records and things like that, I don't see the problem with doxxing a scammer.  But I do indeed understand OP's point that the Investigations section could be abused and also that personal information can be used for nefarious purposes as well.  So I kind of have mixed feelings on the subject.

[Vod]

Doxing is one thing.

Doing it outside of Investigations is wrong.

Mixing lies in to try and get someone injured should be grounds for a ban.

Doing it multiple times after the dox was removed by staff?   Sociopathic behavior.  :/

[KaneVWE]

Doxing is one thing.

Doing it outside of Investigations is wrong.

Mixing lies in to try and get someone injured should be grounds for a ban.

Doing it multiple times after the dox was removed by staff?   Sociopathic behavior.  :/

Ah, the resident doxing expert. 

To be fair if you dox anyone you could be opening them up to being injured. Whether you deliberately incite and encourage their harm or not.

Releasing a scammers dox on the appropriate board is maybe okay. I would perhaps  worry that if someone had pulled a scam that caused serious financial impact upon a person or persons and  if they did take your the dox you posted  and  harm came to innocent 3rd parties aka the families or children of the alleged or even proven scammer, then you may have that on your conscience.

I'm not sure legally where you would stand if someone was shown to have used the dox you provided to locate someone and cause them serious harm.

For sure if I knew and angry mob who had been robbed blind by a scammer where baying for blood, then I would be very cautious to reveal the dox. Better to take all possible legal means to resolve. If not then I guess best to try to make sure they live alone before releasing the dox.

Previously I would have just said any scammer should be named and shamed. Now though since reading through some similar cases, the other implications and collateral damage is worth factoring in.

Tough decision. 

[Vod]

Authorities aren't always able or willing to solve problems

That's a candidate for the understatement of the year award.

Authorities generally won't care if you lost money in an illegal activity, or if the money was a small amount.   But they are interested in the larger scams where many people were involved, as we saw with the pirate (and soon passthrough) ponzis.

[electronicash]

if anyone scam and had been proven to have scammed but are careless to have provide his information online, why should it be prohibited to be publicly shared? 

there are instances here int eh forum where the user blatantly scam someone by defaulting loan. a big amount. there are ways to really provide the real information of him but we are prohibited by laws not to publicly share his details because its illegal. so how do we warn anyone that could be his victim in the future?

[Vod]

if anyone scam and had been proven to have scammed but are careless to have provide his information online, why should it be prohibited to be publicly shared? 

there are instances here int eh forum where the user blatantly scam someone by defaulting loan. a big amount. there are ways to really provide the real information of him but we are prohibited by laws not to publicly share his details because its illegal. so how do we warn anyone that could be his victim in the future?

Warn others?   Why not report the scammer and have him arrested?

Do you want to shame him or hold him accountable?

[electronicash]

if anyone scam and had been proven to have scammed but are careless to have provide his information online, why should it be prohibited to be publicly shared? 

there are instances here int eh forum where the user blatantly scam someone by defaulting loan. a big amount. there are ways to really provide the real information of him but we are prohibited by laws not to publicly share his details because its illegal. so how do we warn anyone that could be his victim in the future?

Warn others?   Why not report the scammer and have him arrested?

Do you want to shame him or hold him accountable?

not really shame him but he should be ashamed.

for someone who only live in a remote area and can't even pay a lawyer worth a $100. i don't think he will even go to a police station and sign there that his scammer is somewhere from the internet and his name is Punjabi while he is located in a remote island in Indonesia. he has to resort to something to get even.

[OgNasty]

Doxing is one thing.

Doing it outside of Investigations is wrong.

Mixing lies in to try and get someone injured should be grounds for a ban.

Doing it multiple times after the dox was removed by staff?   Sociopathic behavior.  :/

Nice to see you admit that your account deserves to be banned.  I agree.  I'm not sure why theymos hasn't banned you yet.  Clearly the community would be better off without you, even by your own admission on this thread.

[Vod]

for someone who only live in a remote area and can't even pay a lawyer worth a $100.

You don't need a lawyer - it's a criminal offence.  If you can prove your case to the police, he may spend the rest of his life behind bars.

[UmerIdrees]

for someone who only live in a remote area and can't even pay a lawyer worth a $100.

You don't need a lawyer - it's a criminal offence.  If you can prove your case to the police, he may spend the rest of his life behind bars.

In most of the countries, the police won't listen to you and you need to pay high fee to the lawyers even if you are not guilty and need justice. I understand this is not applicable on the forum here and here no one gets banned for Doxing or at least i don't know anyone getting banned for it.

[iamsheikhadil]

I think if it's really needed to expose someone's identity if they are believed to be a potential scammer, then it should be done in PMs with moderators of the forum or as you said with authorities and not in a public place like this where everyone can see everything. Because yeah, innocent until proven guilty, and the psychological trauma one might face if they are innocent but become victims of some ill-minded people will be disaster.

[Lorence.xD]

I think if it's really needed to expose someone's identity if they are believed to be a potential scammer, then it should be done in PMs with moderators of the forum or as you said with authorities and not in a public place like this where everyone can see everything. Because yeah, innocent until proven guilty, and the psychological trauma one might face if they are innocent but become victims of some ill-minded people will be disaster.

Exposing someone via PMs is doxing too, the only exception to this rule is that disclosure of information to authorities. Mods can't solve the issue even if you expose them through PMs. Imagine if you doxxed someone and you are entirely wrong, the individual will suffer because of accusations. It came from your mouth, innocent until proven guilty. There shouldn't be a selective justice, innocent and accused alike should be treated with the same respect when it comes to privacy.