Web squatters exploit Madeleine campaign

[Guardianangel]

Businesses register domain names similar to findmadeleine.com to take advantage of the official site's worldwide attention...
Unscrupulous businesses are cashing in on the interest in the internet campaign to find Madeleine McCann by attempting to trick the millions of visitors with bogus websites.By yesterday afternoon the Find Madeleine website, findmadeleine.com, had received more than 75 million hits in its first 48 hours, making it one of the most popular destinations on the internet. It gives details of the search for Madeleine since she was abducted from an Algarve holiday apartment 16 days ago.However, more than 20 websites with similar names have been created in the past three days to promote businesses including chat rooms, estate agents and dating sites.The McCann family has condemned the “typo squatters”, who make money from advertising links on the bogus websites. John McCann, Madeleine’s uncle and a director of Madeleine’s Fund, branded the people behind the websites “parasites”. He said: “We are incredibly disappointed that [they] are taking advantage of people’s generosity and using it for commercial gain.”Trauma consultants have helped Gerry and Kate McCann remain strong despite the stress of their daughter’s abduction
Calum MacRae, a director of the company running the official site and a friend of the family, said that it had registered another website address and was consulting lawyers.Straun Robertson, a technology lawyer with Pinsent Masons, said: “Each of these bogus websites will generate a small amount of revenue. It is selfish and mean-spirited but there is nothing illegal about it and it would be very diffiult to stop.” Emily Taylor, a lawyer with Nominet, said that if a website had been registered with a view to taking advantage of another site’s popularity, then the internet service provider hosting it could take it down for breach of an “acceptable use policy”.

Shouldn't the ISP be held accountable for hosting these sights?..surely they have heard/read the news lately & cant be unaware of the case?? No, they are well aware...

It's so wrong to use someones torment as a link to get noticed...they should be fined or given a warning before total closure & assetts used to compensate the tormented & such. I shall definately report any that I see doing this..

[Jason]

I visited some web sites now but I can see that they do some good things also even tho its bad.

[lea]

well publicity is publicity bad or good it is still publicity that might be able to help find the young girl. But it is sad that other people are so insensitive and greedy to use the situation for their own sake and business.

[Guardianangel]

well publicity is publicity bad or good it is still publicity that might be able to help find the young girl. But it is sad that other people are so insensitive and greedy to use the situation for their own sake and business.

yes im afraid I agree...altho it saddens me they use such a sensitive issue to sell/advertise their service or product etc...a minority do inadvertantly help as they are still promoting the case...catch 22 I think lea ;)

[Guardianangel]

well publicity is publicity bad or good it is still publicity that might be able to help find the young girl. But it is sad that other people are so insensitive and greedy to use the situation for their own sake and business.

yes Jason, its sad..what d'you think should be implemented if they are found to be really abusing it tho..I mean it's one thing them using it to help both sides without going over the top & theres 'cash in on someone elses pain' no matter what...?

[concern_citizen]

I told you sometimes media over used their news not to totally help solve crime but sometimes they used it for their own advantages.

[Crimefighter]

How sad and sickening the human race can be, but above all greedy!

[Jason]

Now that it’s gone so much public do you think the kidnaper ever release her?
I have serious droughts on this. Even if it was just to gain few £ now things are gone so out of control that kidnaper himself don’t have a choice.

[Crimefighter]

Jason i sincerely hope and prey that she has indeed been kidnapped for money, my heart would sing and i would go out with friends and make merry to celebrate such a fantastic result!

Unfortunately the sad truth is more likely that a sexual predator snatched her, took her to somewhere private, then began to play with her. At first this would be normal fun and games as it is known that paedophiles like to get in the mood, next it would turn softly sexual, moving along into penetrative sex. If she was lucky she was killed quickly after this, sometimes however these predators like to commit acts of utter evil where they cut and burn the children as the cries for their mummies turn the predator back on, this is the most unpleasant of scenario's. however it is more and more common.

The sooner we as civilised human beings make a stand against this behaviour the better, the socialogist's were proved wrong, they thought their good upbringing's and educations could solve the problems, they were so, so wrong.

Having spent my childhood growing up with wild vicious animals that some may refer to human beings i know all to well how they can be utterly evil and more importantly, totally beyond any form of help.

I would suggest that you go to YouTube and watch exerts of a show called "To Catch a Predator" here you will see how disgusting these animals can be and despite being caught, they come back time and time again to abuse children.

Personally i would hang them as they are clearly a danger to the children in our society...

[lea]

Personally i would hang them as they are clearly a danger to the children in our society...

I totally agree with you crimefigther those criminals should be hang so they cannot do any more harm to our children and in our society. I know its not the time to point finger on who's at fault why this horrible things happen in our society or like what happen to Madeleine. Maybe our law is being lenient to this kind of people that is why they have the guts to commit this kind of crime. So to other parents this incident should set an exampla and a reminder to be extra cautious whenever you go on holiday with your family.

[Crimefighter]

Yes i agree that parents should be very careful with young children at all times, it saddens me greatly that this type of crime even exists. Robbing banks i can understand as it is just plain greed, but this is sickening and needs to be punished.

I am not angry at the parents as they are only human and they never would of dreamed that this would happen, it does show though that people also need to be security aware. I watched a very disturbing case on crimewatch where a man would go to sleep with his back door unlocked!

Now this was very stupid and indeed he was brutally murdered...

Not only do i lock all of my doors but i move the bed against the bedroom door when i sleep, that way if anyone should break in a try to enter my room they would automatically wake me and i would be able to defend myself while calling the police.

[plymwebed]

Incidents of stranger crime, whether it is a child being abducted by a stranger or you being attacked in your home by a stranger, are very rare. You have to keep these things in perspective.
Everyone should be cautious and take precautions, but have a realistic view of how likely it is you will be a victim of crime.
When taking precautions starts to interfere with living your life you have to question if it has gone too far.
There has to be a middle ground between leaving children unattended in a nearby appartment and pushing your bed against the door to keep out nighttime attackers.
As for cybersquatters, the original point of the topic, Nominet can and will order those abusing names to transfer them to a legitimate owner. Perhaps in a case like this there needs to be a fast-track procedure.

[Crimefighter]

Hello, i have previously worked as an anti social behaviour officer in London.

"Stranger attacks on the person in the home are very rare"

I have seen a few cases in my time and they were always, nasty!

I agree with you that they are rare and indeed it is unlikely, however it is not unheard of so why allow yourself to be one of the unlucky one's, i say be ready when it come's and take em out.

I intend to find a way to slowly but surely tackle crime in the United Kingdom so as such my movements and lifestyle needs to be cautious...

As for the Cybersquatters, i would them put in court for something.

[concern_citizen]

Well there is nothing wrong of being extra cautious like what crimefighter is doing and plymwebed gotta point as well that being cautious should not go to the extreme point that you ruin your own life for being over the top but if it doesnt harm your life style and happiness then there is nothing wrong as well. On the other hand crimefighter probably it will be safer if you just put an alarm in your house or putting something else against your bedroom door but not your bed because in case of emergency like fire you will be in danger as well.

[Crimefighter]

Concern_citizen

Thank you for your comments


Well i cannot get a downstairs movement alarm as i house share with another tenant, i think you are right that a bolt on the door might be a good idea.

I shall pop down to the hardware store and pick one up!

The great thing about having the bed there is that you can detect movement in the house and on the stairs, so i would be awoken and armed and ready while calling the Police.

[concern_citizen]

Your welcome crimefighter and there is nothing wrong of being extra careful. I just thought it will be safer as well if you just put something else behind your door or have a double lock in your door or if you are sharing you can speak to your flatmates of what will be best for evryone's safety.

[lea]

.

I am not angry at the parents as they are only human and they never would of dreamed that this would happen, it does show though that people also need to be security aware. .

Well I do respect your opinion crimefighter but I cant help myself feeling sad and annoyed (angry:mad: ) to the parents because I just think its such a very irresponsible and stupid idea of living your young children in the apartment on their own. Not only about the kidnappers that you shold be thinking but just any accident that these kids might do whilst they are on their own. Kids are very playful, clumsy and they can hurt themselves whilst playing. I have kids myself and definitley no parents would like anything bad to happen to their children but have they ever thought that by leaving their children on their own they already put them in danger. No responsible parent will ever ever leave their children on their own at that very young age. I just feel so sorry fot the little girl for having a parent like hers. I just dont understand why they just didnt order a food in their apartment or one of the parent should just went out and buy the food and bring it back in the apartment or they should organize for somebody to look after the kids whilst they are out. I just feel so sad and sorry for the little girl!

[Crimefighter]

Lea

I totally agree with you as you are a mother and would know best, thank you for sharing that with us as i am sure we could all learn from this.

[Guardianangel]

Well im a mom & I would never have left my babies alone whilst I went off to enjoy myself...yes there are many questions..like y didnt they get someone to stay & watch them...there were a group of them...there was a free babysitting service for gods sake!! But if anything this has to be a lesson to them...a very painful lesson.

I wonder if the recent news of a load of arrests regarding a paedo ring in Portugal that has been investigated for a year now will have any effect on how they do investigations into missing kids over there...the police lacked in their performance & lots of checks were not done..ie: the video footage of the store where a lady said she saw Madeline with a man...

And I wonder had this info been made available to tourists (some locals were fully aware but too scared to speak out)
planning a vacation their with their kids there, whether it could of been prevented..& remember there was a case some 10 yrs ago...Ben Needham..& many more have gone missing whilst on holiday...

So now Im starting another campaign to release this kind of info to tourists before they book!!...then at least they are aware & can make the choice to either go ahead & be very protective or to say NO THANKS!! When travelling to the Dominican Republic I made enquiries regarding crime etc..in a booklet I was sent it clearly & honestly stated there was a lot of prostitution & beggars...at least they were frank!!
Maybe when the tourists stop going to Portugal the government there may think twice about ignoring it/accepting it as a part of their way of life!!

Portugal is the poorest European country..high unemployment etc..so really they should clean up their act to attract more tourists to enable more jobs... this would not stop the paedo's.. but it might just wake the Gov up abit to stop/prevent selling of kids to their elite friends for abuse.

[Crimefighter]

GuardianAngel

Well said and yes i agree you should not leave you kids alone, i am glad you brought up the information regarding the paedo rings out there. Filthy slime should hang, how can anyone get turned on by a little kid? They must be totally sick in the head.....

I also like your idea about getting information out there in regards to how dangerous holiday destinations truly are, i went to the caribbean ten years ago and the people were vicious, disrespectful animals and we nearly got mugged three times. The place is beautiful but the people were scum.

America was much better, they have some real decent folk there out in the small towns.. But you know what, next time i'll stick to Devon....

If you check my post's you will see that i planning to start a little movement of my own in regards to fighting back against crime, your comments would be most welcome as would you if you want to join in.

Thanks for a very interesting and enlightening post....

[Guardianangel]

GuardianAngel

Well said and yes i agree you should not leave you kids alone, i am glad you brought up the information regarding the paedo rings out there. Filthy slime should hang, how can anyone get turned on by a little kid? They must be totally sick in the head.....

I also like your idea about getting information out there in regards to how dangerous holiday destinations truly are, i went to the caribbean ten years ago and the people were vicious, disrespectful animals and we nearly got mugged three times. The place is beautiful but the people were scum.

America was much better, they have some real decent folk there out in the small towns.. But you know what, next time i'll stick to Devon....

If you check my post's you will see that i planning to start a little movement of my own in regards to fighting back against crime, your comments would be most welcome as would you if you want to join in.

Thanks for a very interesting and enlightening post....


Aww {{hugs}}..... I try & dearly want to make a difference...It can get a bit overbearing at times due to the sensitivity of the crime...I cry a lot trust me.

Yes I too found the Dominican a beautiful place & mostly the people were nice...but yes they dont respect animals which I had a BIG deal about...also I was introduced to a 12 y/o girl in a bar by a guy that worked at a hotel near where I was staying...she was beautiful...he then described how he uses her body for money...my daughter of 11 yrs was at home safe in UK...I had to be dragged off him...Im only 5ft 1'...but I got a good right hook...SLAM!!!

I been to USA a few times & yes it's got a better humane population...but unfortunately it is rife with pedos...but hey the UK is as big as NYC & thats only 1 of 52 states so there would be more going on over there..

I would be honoured to join anything that helps prevent crime...my favorite saying is .. 'Prevention is better than cure' lol..

Thanks crimefighter angel-smiley

[Crimefighter]

GuardianAngel

OK, that's great and i will keep you updated of my progress via a private message. I don't blame you for giving that scumbag a big punch, people should not be so greedy and enjoy the good things in life like friendships etc...

Let the children have a normal upbringing with toys & games etc...

Getting back to Paedo scum, yes if you goto YouTube and type in "To Catch A Sex Predator" you will see how low and depraved this scum can be, men in their 50's trying it on with 12 & 13 year old boys and girls......

Now when you are that age you should know better, it's that simple...

If you cannot find it on YouTube then let me know and i will send it over to you on Private Message..

NYC is 54,475 Square Miles and UK is 93,026, so yes i would say it's the size of England :)

[Guardianangel]

GuardianAngel

OK, that's great and i will keep you updated of my progress via a private message. I don't blame you for giving that scumbag a big punch, people should not be so greedy and enjoy the good things in life like friendships etc...

Let the children have a normal upbringing with toys & games etc...

Getting back to Paedo scum, yes if you goto YouTube and type in "To Catch A Sex Predator" you will see how low and depraved this scum can be, men in their 50's trying it on with 12 & 13 year old boys and girls......

Now when you are that age you should know better, it's that simple...

If you cannot find it on YouTube then let me know and i will send it over to you on Private Message..

NYC is 54,475 Square Miles and UK is 93,026, so yes i would say it's the size of England :)


oops I forgot I was kinda including Ireland...forgot to say...lol

{{huggage}}