How to find out a previous connection IP Address

kc_kyle

kc_kyle

kc_kyle

Associate
Joined
22 Dec 2010
Posts
103
I'm unjustly in a bit of trouble. To cut a long story short, I'm being accused of downloading a film illegally. I hadn't actually heard of the film in question until I got this stupid letter and the downloading software I allegedly used, bittorrent, is something I've had no experience with.

I have a feeling that the reason this has come back to me is because of a mistake made by my ISP matching the IP Address to the wrong person. Therefore I'm trying to figure how to disprove their accusations altogether.

Does anybody know how I can find out my IP Address from about two weeks ago? I tried using this method of finding an email I sent and looking at the message details. However this IP Address given here is the wrong type. Apparently this would be the network IP, but I need to determine the connection IP. I'm told there's a difference.

Ideas/suggestions/advice most welcome.
 
So your IP is dynamic and changes?

Ask your ISP which IP you had 2 weeks ago from the allocated range. They should be able to tell you.
 
Mr_White said:
Ignore it.
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Not a good idea. I live in Germany and have already asked a couple of lawyers in this area and they say ignoring it is the worst thing you can do - they'll just come back again and again, raising the fine with each letter until I have to appear in court.

Puppetmaster said:
Who is sending you the letter? What options is it giving you to resolve it?
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A lawyer sent me the letter on the behalf of Constantin Film Producer/Distributor. They say I owe them almost €1000 and have to pay it by 21st May. I've already sought legal advice and this sum can certainly be reduced. Obviously I don't want to pay them anything seeing that I did not download the film, so I'm looking to see if I can prove my innocence. This is just one way. The thing is, the law firm would have contacted my ISP in order to find out who the IP, that was used to download the file, actually belongs to. I think they've made a mistake and would rather find the evidence myself as contacting them might look bad, apparently (I read this on another forum).
 
There may be something in event viewer, if you look for any DHCP errors or warnings, just a guess, seem to remember this from ages ago.
 
Traffic_Warden said:
Should have used a VPN.


have fun in jail
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Thanks for the advice but I'm guessing you didn't read my intro post. It states that I did not download the film and I hadn't actually heard of the film until I read the letter. Like I said, it's either a mistake by the ISP/Ipoque or someone hacked into my router. Even if I were guilty, it anyway wouldn't end in jail...
 
kc_kyle said:
Not a good idea. I live in Germany and have already asked a couple of lawyers in this area and they say ignoring it is the worst thing you can do - they'll just come back again and again, raising the fine with each letter until I have to appear in court.
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Sounds like the usual trolls trying to intimidate people into coughing up to me. Have you googled the law firm who sent it and the content in question?

You might find plenty of people have been hit with the same tactic if it's as I suspect. The best thing to do with those cases is ignore it, when you're not in Germany anyway ;).
 
isnt it up to them to prove you HAVE downloaded the film, rather than you prove you havnt? an IP address isnt proof enough, as it can be changed.

tell them you want more proof!
 
Send them this letter back.


To whom it may concern,

Having subsequently checked, it would appear that I made a mistake in the configuration of my wireless router, leaving it accessible to anyone with a wireless card.

I can only imagine that someone accessed my broadband connection without my knowledge or consent to illegally download/share the copyright material mentioned in the letter.

I have now reconfigured my router to secure my network, thank you for bringing this to my attention.

Regards,

KC Kyle.
 
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Mr_White said:
Sounds like the usual trolls trying to intimidate people into coughing up to me. Have you googled the law firm who sent it and the content in question?

You might find plenty of people have been hit with the same tactic if it's as I suspect. The best thing to do with those cases is ignore it, when you're not in Germany anyway ;).
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I understand what you mean, and you're not the only one to have said it. I have looked up the law firm and as I said, sought advice from lawyers. I have a friend who's a lawyer and specialises in this field and they all say that ignoring such letters are counter-productive and will undoubtedly make my case worse.

There however are many examples of these lawyers chancing their hand and trying to scare people into paying money. Sometimes they hit illegal downloaders, others not. You wouldn't believe some of the stories I've read - one case a 70 year old man was said to have illegally downloaded Iron Man 2. The problem is, you seem to be guilty until proven innocent. The fact is, this film was illegally download - that did happen. I just need to figure how to free myself of any blame, because it's 100% untrue what they claim.

Anyway, the point of the post is to find out the IP Address I was using at the time of this alleged misdemeanor.
 
Only your ISP will know for sure... however they will also be the ones who will have handed your details over to the lawyers.
 
coupe69 said:
Send them this letter back.

Having subsequently checked, it would appear that I made a mistake in the configuration of my wireless router, leaving it accessible to anyone with a wireless card.

I can only imagine that someone accessed my broadband connection without my knowledge or consent to illegally download/share the copyright material mentioned in the letter.

I have now reconfigured my router to secure my network, thank you for bringing this to my attention.
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That won't work either. As the owner of the router I am responsible for it, meaning failure to set up a secure network is an act of negligence, for which I unfortunately am responsible unless I can prove exactly who did hack my wifi.
 
Traffic_Warden said:
Completely missed this bit...

Typical money frauds...

Ignore it...
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to be honest, just the fact that the company thinks knowing that your IP was the one that downloaded the film is enough evidence for court is evidence enough that its a load of rubbish (or the company has someone very stupid sending out these letters)
 
MrMoonX said:
Stupid scam by retarded lawyers ignore it!

They have to prove you yourself downloaded the film, not you prove your innocence
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It's a huge grey area in the law books and these lawyers are totally exploiting it. They're rats, but they are holding me responsible as owner of the internet connection over which the illegal download was made. Whether I physically clicked the buttons or not is irrelevant in this case.

JBod said:
Only your ISP will know for sure... however they will also be the ones who will have handed your details over to the lawyers.
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Indeed...
 
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