Most of what they claim to be looking for is stuff that most people won't object to their countering. Still, if anyone spots a government agency offering an "informant" email address, posting it so that we can send them lots of stuff (i.e., all the "Make Money Fast" pyramid schemes) would seem to be a good thing to do... it should occupy them so that they're doing things that are useful. Cypherpunks relevance? Well, there is the mention of anonymnity. -Allen Reuters New Media _ Thursday December 28 6:31 AM EST _ Authorities Patrolling Cyberspace for Crime WASHINGTON (Reuter) - Crime on the Internet is now more than just dirty pictures. With millions of people and a fast-growing commercial presence in cyberspace, federal law enforcement authorities are struggling to crack down on wrongdoing in the new territory. They are hunting for bogus get-rich-quick schemes, weight-loss miracles, AIDS cures, credit-repair programs, investment scams and gambling. That's in addition to crimes such as trafficking in child pornography. ``The scams are the same. The way you investigate them is different,'' said Lucy Morris, assistant director for credit practices at the Federal Trade Commission, which has staff attorneys monitoring the Internet. Just as they would on the street, these ``cybercops'' act on tips or they just patrol. The potential crime scenes are the Internet worldwide computer network, computer online services such as America Online and smaller computer bulletin boards. Cruising cyberspace as part of their work are employees with the FTC, the Securities and Exchange Commission, the Department of Transportation, the Secret Service, state attorneys general and state securities regulators. They can work at the office or from home. ``In some respects it's easier to find the violations because you don't have to leave the office,'' said Minnesota Deputy Attorney General Tom Pursell. But there are obstacles. Cyberspace offers criminals wonderful anonymity and law officers face ambiguous jurisdiction issues due to the global nature of the Internet, raising questions about whether new laws are needed to cope with the new medium. ``Now all you need is a computer, a telephone, a little bit of software, and you're in business,'' said Hubert Humphrey III, the attorney general of Minnesota who himself prowls cyberspace in search of wrongdoing. Authorities agree they have their work cut out. ``It's going to be very difficult,'' predicted Humphrey, whose state has been out front in tracking down wrongdoing.