Threatening Email

[TapDemGuts]

I received a threatening email from one of my students this morning. At least I assume it was one of my students because they didn't include a name in the email. Anyway, the person basically told me that if I didn't lighten up and take it easier on my students, something bad might happen to me. If I contact the police or possibly FBI about this, do you think they will do anything? CAN they do anything? This pisses me off and I would like to find out who it is. The email was from a Yahoo account.

[SexOnWheels]

Hopefully it is a joke and not a scare tactic.

It is really hard to trace free e-mail accounts like hotmail and yahoo.

[SSwt00SS]

report it, joke or not it's unacceptable to me to threaten someone period. be smart and get it on record now w/law enforcement incase something happens later down the road.

also, it's easier than you think to trace someone. IP address is assigned to a personal PC, so unless this was written in the library it is traceable...

[SLIM_DURST]

well, it could be impossible to trace, for example if they opened that yahoo account and sent the email from a public computer, like the library.
the police could ask Yahoo for the ip address that the account was used at. Yahoo may or may not have that info, and if they do may or may not be willing to provide it.

[Knighthawk LS1]

report it

[Dax]

The IP may actually be in the email headers.

[Nastyfoot]

Hopefully it is a joke and not a scare tactic.

It is really hard to trace free e-mail accounts like hotmail and yahoo.

Childs play for the FBI

[F-Bomb]

i would write the names of each student on the board, with a question mark by some and money signs by others and then have a question writen out stating at what point in your life do you really think its worth it? and then have a feild trip to the police station for a finger printing class.

[Spaz]

I received a threatening email from one of my students this morning. At least I assume it was one of my students because they didn't include a name in the email. Anyway, the person basically told me that if I didn't lighten up and take it easier on my students, something bad might happen to me. If I contact the police or possibly FBI about this, do you think they will do anything? CAN they do anything? This pisses me off and I would like to find out who it is. The email was from a Yahoo account.

you can trace the ISP and nail them... not that hard to do...

[Spaz]

well, it could be impossible to trace, for example if they opened that yahoo account and sent the email from a public computer, like the library.
the police could ask Yahoo for the ip address that the account was used at. Yahoo may or may not have that info, and if they do may or may not be willing to provide it.

doesn't matter... librarys have camers on the computer to catch sex offenders (megans law offernders aww well), and other idots who abuse them...

[The Answer]

There are a host of influences in play here.
First, what is the class and at what level?
If the class is also an elective for other majors, then it would be a little easier to spot the student in class who is only in for the elective requirement.
If the class is a madatory requisite for the particular major then look to the student whose GPA might be affected by a lower grade and /or performance.

If it is a predominantly hard class, high GPA students can be counted out.

Don't be fooled by angry students who banter suspiciously over-argumentative as compared to the brooding quiet student who most likely is the culprit.

If you gave somebody a D or F on an exam or as a grade and/or in a previous class and/or they were kicked out of school because of it then what did you expect?

[shadegray]

Anyone can use something like anonymizer for free and ISP tracking becomes worthless.

[Dax]

There are a host of influences in play here.
First, what is the class and at what level?
If the class is also an elective for other majors, then it would be a little easier to spot the student in class who is only in for the elective requirement.
If the class is a madatory requisite for the particular major then look to the student whose GPA might be affected by a lower grade and /or performance.

If it is a predominantly hard class, high GPA students can be counted out.

Don't be fooled by angry students who banter suspiciously over-argumentative as compared to the brooding quiet student who most likely is the culprit.

If you gave somebody a D or F on an exam or as a grade and/or in a previous class and/or they were kicked out of school because of it then what did you expect?

You should seriously consider writing for television crime shows as a career.

[ztrouble]

Anyone can use something like anonymizer for free and ISP tracking becomes worthless.

do you honestly think that there is something that is completely untraceable?

either way report it joke or not its a threat.

[94z28l]

i'd actually look to the students with the higher GPA's with a low grade in the class as they would be the ones who would want the better grade at any cost

[dock]

[QUOTE=SSwt00SS;503366]report it, joke or not it's unacceptable to me to threaten someone period. be smart and get it on record now w/law enforcement incase something happens later down the road.

Absolutely

[KyleLs1]

Hit Reply, and say I'll take it easy on my students before i take it easy on your mom

[shadegray]

do you honestly think that there is something that is completely untraceable?

either way report it joke or not its a threat.

No, not completely but you're not going to be able to use something as simple as just looking up the ip address.

[Sassy Cassie]

I think your first step should be reporting this to your administrator.

[StangKiller615]

There should be some way, you can uncover the IP address of this individual.