Amir Massoud Tofangsazan
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Amir Tofangsazan is a resident of Barnet, United Kingdom of Iranian origin who is alleged to have defrauded Thomas Sawyer, an eBay buyer also in the UK.[1] In an example of so-called Internet vigilantism, Sawyer erected a satirical blog and popularized it in an attempt to shame Tofangsazan into refunding his money and apologizing. The Blogger username he used is laptopguy.
Sawyer allegedly received, two months after paying, a laptop of lower specifications than those advertised. Furthermore, the appliance was allegedly not operable even with the new charger it required. Sawyer was eventually able to recover data stored on the hard disk of the laptop, upon which it is claimed that he discovered numerous items of personal and financial information relating to Amir and his family, as well as potentially embarrassing pornographic images, and what appear to be camera phone images of the legs of women on the London Underground. He was also able to gain access to Amir's email, and mass-mail contacts in his address book with instructions on how to access a blog featuring some of the photographs and text allegedly recovered from the hard disk. [1]
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[edit] Popularity
The blog, written from the imaginary first-person perspective of Amir, experienced surging popularity, namely after being featured on popular websites such as Digg. The blog's creator claims it reached over 1 million page hits in 8 days in the month of May 2006. It was featured in major media outlets, such as the Daily Mail, the BBC, the Evening Standard and ITV. Thomas Sawyer was dubbed "eBay Avenger" by the Daily Mail.[1]
Due to the popularity of the site at the time, Thomas Sawyer was able to sell advertising space on the blog for £460. Ironically this was done through an eBay auction.[2]
[edit] Effect of the blog
The blog reportedly made Amir's life "a living hell" at the height of its popularity.[3] He also claimed to have received threatening and racist phone calls.
Amir has protested his innocence, claiming the laptop had been used by someone else and that the photos featuring him and data posted on the blog originated from a hacked Hotmail account,[4] and that the laptop was in working condition when he had sent it to the buyer. He also denies any ownership of the photos featuring womens' legs.[4]
[edit] The eBay auction
The photos of the laptop have been removed from the original listing but the original specifications are still listed. The photos can be found on the blog.
Amir's account (amir6626) is no longer registered on eBay. Out of the four feedback comments received only one is marked as positive - from a user called nicktofang. Thomas Sawyer, eBay username spikytom, did not post a negative comment against Amir's account.
[edit] Other accusation against Amir
The Daily Mail featured a report on another eBay user allegedly defrauded by Amir. According to Debbie McInerney, a 42 year old IT administrator from Newport Pagnell, Buckinghamshire, she sent Amir a £147 check for an iPod which she never received.[5]
[edit] Follow ups
Thomas Sawyer stopped updating the blog at the height of its popularity and instead provided a link to another anti-Amir blog, featuring news clippings and photoshopped pictures of Amir in various unflattering situations.
An investigation has been started by Barnet Police regarding a claim of "improper use of public electronic communications network" against the blog website.[6]
To date, no refund has been issued by Amir for the laptop, nor has any legal action commenced between either party.
