Feds initiated a massive operation and seized 130+ Domain Names

[FmGrowit]

Smokesahoy sent me a PM saying he saw a screen with a seized message on it. Has anyone else seen this screen? Here's a article about about sites being seized, but we sure don't sell copyrighted material here .

http://www.itsagadget.com/2011/11/feds-seize-130-domain-names.html

 

[deluxestogie]

That was 4 months ago.

Bob

 

[SmokesAhoy]

the one i just saw happened when i tried to view a thread, it talked about tobacco related laws, not copyright ones, i cant find the image cache on my phone, not sure if android stores a cache even.

anyway the similarity is the badges, the border and threats, but the wordage dealt with illegal tobacco trafficking. what is wierd is that i saw it once, and when i went back and refreshed the screen it was gone.

what could cause a blip like that? it was tobacco oriented though, but i cant even find a similar picture on a google image search, all i get are pictures like the above dealing with copyright, gambling etc.

 

[FmGrowit]

What thread were you looking at or trying to view? This is weird

 

[SmokesAhoy]

it was this thread: http://www.fairtradetobacco.com/showthread.php?721-DIY-Cigar-pics

on the mobile version there is a > arrow in the far right of the tabs, when you click it, it takes you to the first unread post in a thread. i clicked that and got the image. i figured the site was gonna stay down at that point but i refreshed anyway and it took me to the forum like usual.

i would think it was just a random hiccup but the wordage was tobacco trafficking related, not any of the other seizure reasons.

 

[deluxestogie]

Today was supposed to be the big day that the rogue hacker group, Anonymous, brought down the Internet.

Bob

 

[Tom_in_TN]

Pertinent parts of the article reads: They are targeting mostly sites that charge the visitor for access to the products and services. The brunt of the sites deal in counterfeit merchandise, such as clothing. One, however, did peddle auto software they had stolen. Although last year’s focus was on free media, followed shortly after by streaming sites, there have been no such sites hit this year.

FmGrowit, we sure don't sell copyrighted material here.

You give people FREE seeds to come here. No worries.

 

[deluxestogie]

I've just navigated to all of the 75 tobacco related sites for which I have bookmarks. One (FarmDirectTobacco) is gone, apparently because the domain name was not renewed--no DHS there. None of the other sites, both retail and whole tobacco, is having any issue with the domain name or scary messages. I did notice that esplendidocigars, a Canadian site that sells Havana cigars, has added "We do not ship to the US" to its masthead since the last time I visited.

Bob

 

[SmokesAhoy]

yeah it makes no sense, since they wouldnt have taken the domain name and then said to themselves "woops, this site deals in an agricultural product, not tobacco since it has midribs attached. lets reinstate it." that would be up to FM and an endless supply of money to spend on legal fees to prove his point, the fact that it was up for a sec and then gone is totally baffling to me.

 

[BarG]

"it was this thread: http://www.fairtradetobacco.com/showthread.php?721-DIY-Cigar-pics

on the mobile version there is a > arrow in the far right of the tabs, when you click it, it takes you to the first unread post in a thread. i clicked that and got the image." i figured the site was gonna stay down at that point but i refreshed anyway and it took me to the forum like usual.

i would think it was just a random hiccup but the wordage was tobacco trafficking related, not any of the other seizure reasons.

Which unread post was it? Maybe one of us is on there hit list. No No No it wasn't me......

BarG

 

[CaryNC]

Briefly popped up for about 1/2 second, then went to the site. They don't like independent thinking and we are the enemy. Shameful bunch they are.

 

[deluxestogie]

Hmmm. Perhaps it's the Ron Paul superpacs attempting to further the Libertarian cause.

Bob

 

[deluxestogie]

This is pretty spooky. I seem to be the only human being left on planet FTT. I guess my login never had a chance to time-out. I must have too much time on my hands. It's surreal. Even the theme has changed. It's the Fair Trade Twilight Zone!

Bob

 

[dkh2]

Smokesahoy sent me a PM saying he saw a screen with a seized message on it. Has anyone else seen this screen? Here's a article about about sites being seized, but we sure don't sell copyrighted material here .

http://www.itsagadget.com/2011/11/feds-seize-130-domain-names.html

Nice Try April Fools

 

[wazzappenning]

who did it though. late last night i tried to post a reply and got something along the lines of "site down for maintenance. when i tried again i got that seizure notice. problem is after reading it through mine had attorney as attorny, counterfeit as counterfiet and warrant as warrent, so i knew it was fake but by who? fm?

forget it, i read the other thread.

 

[SmokesAhoy]

bwaha, i spent like an hour trying to find another example of that seized picture last night, and for the world of me couldnt figure out why they had never shut down a tobacco site, i got things for gambling, immigrations etc nothing about tobacco i was like surely this isnt the only one? then i tried plumbing the depths of the stupid "smart" phone and couldnt get into the cache to pull the pic back up.. i was getting sooo frustrated!

well i just got back from going out to eat some lunch and it's all working with a new color scheme. love it!

 

[CoralReefs]

That's kind of scarey. Kind of 1984ish.

 

[Steve2md]

I tried all day to log on to this site yesterday. Same general info, but it referred to "Illegal Tobacco Trafficking". the thing that tipped me off about it being a possible hacker attack, was the ICE badge....immigration is now concerned with home grown tobacco??? I think not. Also, Grass city was up and working fine, and that site is all about growing pot!! definitely not a real governmental seizure.

 

[wazzappenning]

it was the spelling mistakes that made me think hacker. in the line of "we know what is right for everyone and will try to force it on them" without knowing their law, and that everything here is completely legal.

the real reason for domain seizures is copyright infringement right? so i could see ice being involved. it could promote illegal immigration. all those people want to come to america so they can shoot a car and watch it explode 12 times...that doesnt happen anywhere else on earth...lol.

 

[BarG]

Did anyone else spend half the night learning about the internet seizures like I did. It was disturbing to say the least. Regardless of the reasons for seizure which in many cases were justified considering the content, the method was not. April 1st opened my eyes to a behind the mainstrem look at what american citizens are facing as far as free speech and the right to congregate, and seizure of personal property without a warrent. Everyone on this site as a member should have a personal interest in such actions. Thats just me. How bout you.