Your Shield Against Criminal Prosecution
Governor Deval Patrick signed into Massachusetts law a Cyber / Internet Crime bill that outlaws the transmission of sexually graphic instant message to minors. The new law was written to close a loophole that led to the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court reversing the conviction of a man who was criminally charged with sending explicit instant messages to a 13 year…
The Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court recently decided the case of Commonwealth v. Kereakoglow, and reversed the defendant’s conviction after jury trial on the criminal charges of Possession with Intent to Disseminate Material Harmful to Minors, in violation of Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 272, Section 28. The defendant, residing in South Hadley (Hampshire County), allegedly sent three nude images of himself…
In a recent study by the data security firm Symantec Corporation, Boston ranked as the No. 2 worst city for Cyber/Internet Crimes city in America, narrowly missing the top spot, which was taken by Seattle. According to the Cyber-Crime Report, the high concentration of “spam zombies” (computers taken over by outside hackers to send out spam) and Boston’s numerous unsecured…
In an elaborate cyber crime, a website advertising a fake bridal show to be held in Boston at the Hynes Convention Center this coming weekend scammed thousands of brides and vendors of several thousand dollars. The website, The Boston 411, targeted people and vendors through popular bridal event websites and common social media sites such as Facebook. The internet bridal…
Boston Mayor Thomas Menino recently announced initiatives, including a hotline, to combat ‘cyber-bullying’ instances among students in Boston area schools. The hotline, staffed by the City’s Law Department, Boston Public Schools and the Boston Police Department, allows callers to voice concerns, report bullying occurrences, request assistance, and screen for emergency situations that might require an immediate response. The Anti-Cyber Bullying…