Can someone search for email online? How does one do that?

Can I trace someone via their email header?

• I have someone who sent me an email from a yahoo email address, saying that they were from a non-profit and asking for a non-profit discount on our business services. I asked them for their 501-3-c cert, which he provided via a scan attached to the email address. He asked for a rush service due to a fast-approaching event, and, against my better judgement, I agreed to bill him net 7 days for $198.00. Well... he didn't pay. It's been three weeks. Now, I find out that the information he sent me may not be valid, as I cannot find where either he or verify that his organization exists. I have 3 emails from him with a yahoo addres. I went to yahoo and he does not have a profile. I have outlook 2001-SR1 on a PC. I tried to look at the message headers, but the instructions I found online for viewing headers tell me to open the email, click on file, properties, then the details tab, but the tab for "details" does not appear on any of the emails I have. I don't know if the headers would help anyway... I just thought it might be a way to find out what ISP he uses in case it's a regional one so I can narrow him down for a person search. I know we can't post specific inquiries about specific people, so I'm on my own. If anyone can advise about how to track someone that has ripped them off from a yahoo address, I'd greatly appreciate it.

• Answer:

  Hello margi, The instructions that you found (telling you to go to File and Properties) were for Microsoft Outlook Express. I have located some excellent instructions for you on how to get the header information in Microsoft Outlook: Here is an important excerpt: "Highlighted above are clues that may allow tracing of the note, identifying the originating internet address (134.193.4.150 in this illustration) and the time and time zone the note arrived at its first stop. Each computer that handles the note puts a Received: line in the front of existing headers. Thus the Received: lines lowest in the list indicate the origin. However, a sender may insert bogus Received lines or may use a proxy connection or a compromised email server. Hence, a proper analysis may require expert inspection and data from server logs." Reporting Problem Email via Microsoft Outlook 2000 http://www.umkc.edu/is/cs/abuse/headers_outlook.htm If the originating ip is not shown as a domain name, you can click on Start -> Run -> and type in: cmd.exe and then click OK Next, type: tracert (exact ip address here) This should tell you where the email was sent from, if the originating email was indeed Yahoo, I suggest that you contact: http://au.add.yahoo.com/fast/help/abuse/cgi_abuse If there is a different originating ip address, then you can try emailing [email protected] If you are having trouble locating the domain this was sent from, feel free to post part of the header here and I will see if I can help you find an email address for you to send a complaint to. I think it would be a tough battle for you to actually find out who this person is, and you might have to file a lawsuit or contact authorities if any laws have been broken to get the organization to release the persons identity, if it is available. Do you know if certificate is valid? You could try obtaining contact information through that, it would probably be your best chance. If you need any clarifications, feel free to post and I will do my best to further assist you. tisme-ga Search Strategy: microsoft outlook -express tracing email ://www.google.com/search?q=microsoft+outlook+%2Dexpress+tracing+email yahoo abuse ://www.google.com/search?q=yahoo+abuse