Long story short, I advertised a motorcycle for sale on craigslist, buyer from the states (I'm in Canada) contacted me, we exchanged few emails and agreed on price. He flew here and paid with a bank draft, $4300.

Three weeks later money was taken from my bank account because bank draft was stolen, from a stolen bank account.

Name, address, phone number of the buyer are all fake (prepaid phone).

Cops didn't want to even take the report but after some convincing they did, although I don't think they'll do anything.

The only thing I have is his email address but it's Gmail, so no IP in the headers.

What are my chances to subpoena Google to release the IP? Of course then I'd have to do the same for the ISP to get a name/address and even after all that I might get lucky unless it's unsecured wireless network someone used, hacked computer, internet café etc.

The police should be able to get this info when they look into the criminal issue

Or of course the IP was from a coffee house or college or it was a dial up connection

I'm afraid you are out of luck.

I too use craigslist to sell things often.

I will accept nothing but cash, state that fact in my add, and still get numerous "offers" like the one you are describing here.

Just my guess, but this person will have left no traceable information, he probably used a wireless hot spot somewhere for the communications, he probably used a fake name to set up his email accounts.

Wish I had better suggestions but again, I'm afraid there is little you can do to recover this loss.

Good Luck!

I understand that my chances are low but does anyone know of a case where Google did release IP?

What I was able to find is that Gmail is one of only a few email provides that does not send senders IP in the headers, to protect privacu according to them, but no wonder gmail is favourite email of scammers and con artists.

For a civil case, I would guess they would fight the release of any info, state that your court did not have jursidiction to order them ** just my guess, I understand normally they are not forth coming with private info easily. But from the criminal side, if the info was ordered as evidence they would have to. So follow up with the police to see if they have did this.

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Originally Posted by telusmob147

I understand that my chances are low but does anyone know of a case where google did release IP?

What I was able to find is that Gmail is one of only a few email provides that does not send senders IP in the headers, to protect privacu according to them, but no wonder gmail is favourite email of scammers and con artists.

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Once it's a criminal matter the Police can subpoena whatever Google has on file - they will most definitely not release it to a private individual.

Can't you track backwards from the registration and/title? SOMEONE has registered the motorcycle - ! That's where I would start - and I do this for a living.

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Originally Posted by JudyKayTee

Once it's a criminal matter the Police can subpoena whatever Google has on file - they will most definitely not release it to a private individual.

Can't you track backwards from the registration and/title? SOMEONE has registered the motorcycle - ! That's where I would start - and I do this for a living.

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Nobody registered it, it's either sent overseas with fake documents or it's registered here but again using fake documents.

It's hard to get the police to do anything and even then prosecuting this person would probably be too expensive, that's why I'm thinking of doing it in small claims.

Is it possible to sue john doe and then get a subpoena from a judge so Google and ISP tor elease the name?

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Originally Posted by telusmob147

Nobody registered it, it's either sent overseas with fake documents or it's registered here but again using fake documents.

It's hard to get the police to do anything and even then prosecuting this person would probably be too expensive, that's why I'm thinking of doing it in small claims.

Is it possible to sue john doe and then get a subpoena from a judge so google and ISP tor elease the name?

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No, in my area at least you can't sue "John Doe" because who do you serve? And you can't get a John Doe subpoena.

I thought motorcycles were like cars - there's a VIN (of some sort), a title - I've found motorcycles in the past. Maybe it varies from State to State, country to country.