[PSA/Article] The government tracked the IP address of an individual tracking EMS packages on the USPS website, leading to the investigation, arrest and conviction of this individual

See the full publication here:

http://leagle.com/decision/In%20FDCO%2020150428A80/U.S.%20v.%20BATES

Concrete proof, at last, that law enforcement does use - routinely, it seems - logged IP address information from USPS' website and tracking service as part of their investigations .

In other words: Don't track that crack!


Comments


[26 Points] None:

This headline is a little misleading. It implies the tracking led to the investigation. The way I read it, they found the powder then started monitoring tracking.

In October 2013, U.S. Postal Service (USPS) investigators opened a package in Hollywood, Florida that contained 500 grams of a "white crystal-like substance" that turned out to be the synthetic stimulant methylone. Dowd Aff. at 4. Investigators determined that a computer with an IP address registered to the Rockland, Massachusetts home of Harold Bates was tracking the parcel's whereabouts, and USPS notifications about the parcel's progress from Hong Kong, where it originated, had been sent to Bates's e-mail account. Moreover, they learned that Bates had tracked as many as five other USPS Express Mail packages sent from Hong Kong and China over the previous two months.

There is also some interesting stuff in there about how he used someone else to pick up the package, and how that really provided no protection at all.


[11 Points] DeliChopz:

Wow, notifications sent to his e-mail account and tracking while still on his IP? I think some people forget that drugs are even illegal at times. I'd be way too paranoid to do any tracking anyways. I mean if the law wants you, they'll get their way but why on earth would anyone want to make it so damn easy for them?


[8 Points] consumerrr:

Funny how they need to mention the dog's name and age.

I think it's worth pointing out this guy was no small time "personal use" buyer, he was ordering bulk and reselling. Doubt agent whateverthefuck would have gone this far for a few grams of something


[9 Points] None:

to me it seems pointless tracking a package at all. theres only one 2 outcomes , it comes or it dosent . its like looking at facebook after you send some hot girl a message and see she was online when you sent the message , checking when shes online wont make a difference , theres only 2 outcomes she texts back or she dosent .


[8 Points] None:

Half a kilo. This certainly applies almost exclusively to vendors, but better safe than sorry.


[6 Points] BenzoBlotters:

A few things that stand out to us...

Lessons learned:

Surely there's more, but at first glance those are the things that stick out. A good read though, would love to see more about the case, rather than just the summary about the movement to suppress the evidence.


[3 Points] None:

inspectors conducted a "trash pull" at Bates's residence. They found the familiar trappings of drug trafficking — cutoff tops of plastic "baggies," a box for a digital desktop scale,3 receipts of Western Union wire transfers to China and Hong Kong, and empty Chinese parcels addressed to Bates.

Is that legal without a warrant? also this would be a shitty way to get caught. package has made it almost all the way but the cops decide to use your package as a control, and then the dogs detect something in it

Seibert laid the two packages out on a loading dock, along with four or five "controls" — similarly-sized packages pulled from the mail stream that were not suspected of containing drugs.


[2 Points] None:

Holy shit! Thanks for reporting this!

I know using TOR to conceal your IP to check tracking could potentially flag your package, but what about a VPN? If you use a SOCKS proxy to assign yourself an IP in a city close to you that should be fine in theory, right?


[2 Points] BrodhiRoundhouseKick:

Even when a vendor gives me tracking info I still don't check it haha. Especially numerous times....


[1 Points] ShulginsCat:

Good find !


[1 Points] None:

2013: the year off methylone


[1 Points] throwaway4dnms23412:

I tracked a USPS tracking number last night on the clearnet (dont have a VPN) from a vendor that has been sketching me out and now Im kind of freaking out


[1 Points] None:

As bunnydoctor stated, title is a bit misleading, but thanks for the info. This is still good to know.


[1 Points] deezyyyy:

This is why I always track my packs using public wifi at a bar, resturant, etc...


[1 Points] None:

So iship and all that shit is off limits now?


[1 Points] steue2u:

And that's why you don't have sex with hookers unless you're wearing a condom!

And some people here have asked me what use a VPN has when there's Tor - say what you will about logging claims, this is a perfect illustration. Tracking it from his own IP...SMH.


[1 Points] omgitsfletch:

Hong Kong to Boston area, by way of a ... suburb next to Miami? I guess all East Coast customs must be clearing in Miami...still doesn't explain why it ended up in Hollywood though?


[1 Points] nextbizzy:

The title is misleading. Him tracking the package did not lead to the investigation. They found the drugs.. then looked up who tracked it and investigated from there.


[1 Points] anon1776272892299:

Thought it was common knowledge not to use your own ip adress or tor to track a package of illegal goods.

This article.states that only happened after an interception which led to an investigation.


[1 Points] gwern:

http://motherboard.vice.com/read/an-alleged-dark-web-drug-dealer-got-busted-by-a-fake-mailman


[1 Points] DNMozmod:

Worth noting that even though they were pretty certain the first packs contained drugs they allowed them to be collected on Dec 3 and didn't actually bust him til Dec 7. i.e. there was an attempted CD, the packages were allowed to be picked up, and the actual bust was a couple days after (albeit for different packages).

A risk of ordering more than one at a time?


[0 Points] None:

[deleted]


[-1 Points] jahrastafareye:

If you're brown, go to town. If you're black , do not track. lol


[-1 Points] Vendor_BBMC:

It goes without saying that the customer RECEIVING the package doesn't need to fear revealing their IP address. If drugs are found in a package, they don't need your ip address - your name and address are on the package, and as the recipient on the tracking ticket.

This was a vendor who tracked packages himself, instead of giving the numbers to his customers AFTER THE PACKAGES ARE CONSIDERED TO BE LATE ARRIVING.

Packages are only ever tracked by the recipient, and sometimes the sender.