Getting rid of annoying users!

I've got a problem! My web-game (http://battles.interstellar-war.com)
is being plagued by a particularly annoying user. He creates multiple
accounts and uses them to harass other players. Each time I ban one of
his accounts, he creates a new one. I've tried blocking his IP
address, but that's clearly a short term solution.

The user seems to be using IP masking, so tracking him down is proving
to be very difficult. Is there any way to either trace the user back
to his real IP address (so I can at least complain to his ISP), or is
there a way to detect and block users with masked IP addresses?

I've searched the web, the newsgroups and tried everything I can think
of, but it's no use. I'm ripping my hair out to the point where I want
to just shut the game down and have a quiet life.

Your help is much appreciated,

Kind regards,

Robert Illing

Re: Getting rid of annoying users!

rob_illing@hotmail.com wrote:

> I've got a problem! My web-game (http://battles.interstellar-war.com)
> is being plagued by a particularly annoying user. He creates multiple
> accounts and uses them to harass other players. Each time I ban one
> of his accounts, he creates a new one. I've tried blocking his IP
> address, but that's clearly a short term solution.
>
> The user seems to be using IP masking, so tracking him down is proving
> to be very difficult. Is there any way to either trace the user back
> to his real IP address (so I can at least complain to his ISP), or is
> there a way to detect and block users with masked IP addresses?
>
> I've searched the web, the newsgroups and tried everything I can think
> of, but it's no use. I'm ripping my hair out to the point where I
> want to just shut the game down and have a quiet life.

What ISPs (if there are more than one) do the request originate from?
If they come from an anonymous proxy service, you could complain to
them instead, handing over your records of his abusive behaviour and
ask them nicely to either return the favor or pass on this information
to his originating ISP. If they don't comply, threaten with legal
action (just make threats at first, but be ready to call your lawyer if
they don't come through), make them liable for his harrassing behaviour
("liable", as in "allowing him to continue harrassing people").

--
Kim André Akerø
- kimandre@NOSPAMbetadome.com
(remove NOSPAM to contact me directly)

Re: Getting rid of annoying users!

Thanks for your response Kim.

First time it was from bigpond.com.au, and most recently it was from
starcat.ne.jp, so it doesn't look like an anonymous proxy service. I've
looked at the Japanese ISPs website and they have no abuse reporting
procedure that I can see; at least not on their English wesbite anyway.
I'm greatly perplexed by this, I must say.

Regards,

Rob