Email Information

Question: Is it illegal for someone at work to get onto my work pc and send an email from my account pretending to be me?

(Posted by: The Great Escape on 2010-03-10 04:00:33)

After I left work yesterday, someone got the key to my office, booted up my pc, logged into my email account (neither are password protected as it is a works PC and my office is locked) and replied to an email pretending to be me. It was not a nasty email or anything but are there any laws against this? (it was the bosses daughter, hence the access to the keys)

Posted by: Apple Jacks on 2010-03-10, 04:02:15

Are you sleeping with your boss's daughter?

Posted by: Mark on 2010-03-10, 04:04:53

Yes, under the Computer Misuse Act (1990): 1. Unauthorised access to computer material. 2. Unauthorised access with intent to commit or facilitate commission of further offences. 3. Unauthorised modification of computer material. So following the first rule, if they have accessed your computer without your permission, they are breaking the law.

Posted by: L on 2010-03-10, 04:06:09

Wow, you are in a bad situation. I think that you should let your boss know that "someone " did this. He/ She may investigate and find out that it was his/ her daughter. I'm not sure if it is illegal - but it is certainly unethical. If the boss doesn't own the company and the boss's daughter doesn't work there, then she may be trespassing, which is illegal. You should find a way to lock your computer. My work computer is password protected. You may use this incident to encourage the boss to password protect your computer.

Posted by: Marvin on 2010-03-10, 04:07:43

Only complication with the computer misuse act is that the computer does not belong to you - it belongs to her dad! - or at least it belongs to his company. You should complain to the boss.

Posted by: prem on 2010-03-10, 04:21:35

Yes you can take action against him under the Computer Misuse Act (1990)

Posted by: Charlie on 2010-03-10, 04:24:15

If she signed your name, then yes. It is just as illegal as signing your name anywhere else on paper. No one at work should be acting as you and sending emails you dont approve to others. In this day and age, there are legal ramifications for any type of forgery/ impersonation. Especially at the work place.

Posted by: Colanth on 2010-03-10, 05:32:30

Since the boss owns the computer (and everything on it), about the only charge could be illegal impersonation - if the impersonation itself was illegal (it depends on the circumstances). If she had his permission to use the computer (and he's not going to throw his daughter to the wolves to protect you), the access to the computer was legal - she had the owner's permission.

Posted by: twinkle on 2010-03-10, 07:27:04

Hi as this is fraud, you could be prosecuted if the e-mail was to someone who objected then it would be your head on the block. so request a password protection for your p.c.and change it regularly. say it least once a month.