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FTC Swings their new Anti-Spam Bat
FTC kicks off anti-spam campaign with arrests
(old news - 11:54AM Tuesday Feb 12 2002)
tags: legal · spam
As we've mentioned previously, the FTC has been planning a long overdue crackdown on spam, specifically the "fraudulent and deceptive" kind. According to Reuters the FTC has launched the party by announcing the arrest of seven individuals involved in such a scam. Of interest to those interested in political office, our current poll indicates you'll have better luck if you jump on the anti-spam bandwagon.

Related:
  1. $11 Million Spamhaus Penalty Tossed
  2. Alan Ralsky Indicted
  3. Spam King Faces 26 Years In Jail
  4. You Have a Constitutional Right to Send Spam
  5. Monday Morning Links
  6. AT&T Slammed For Text Message Spam
  7. Your Constitutional Right To Spam
  8. FTC Shuts Down 'Rogue' ISP
Forums » FTC Swings their new Anti-Spam Bat
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MrTangent

join:2001-12-28
Earth

Spam = Jail Time!

Woah. "Arrests" 'Tis not a good day to be a spammer. I have a feeling Kilingspam is going to be elated at this news.
permalink · 2002-02-12 11:35:38 · Reply to this

WildGod
God Is Dead
Premium
join:2002-01-30
NYC

Re: Spam = Jail Time!

Ahhhhh we meet again M. Tangent.

Im very happy after reading this article.
These ppl were not arrested simply for sending spam. They were involved in scamming people out of money and they deserve everything they get.
--
AOL DSL SUCKS
permalink · 2002-02-13 10:49:07 · Reply to this

MrTangent

join:2001-12-28
Earth

Re: Spam = Jail Time!

Wildxgod, I'm tending to side with your view (and hello again). I think the part that we differed on before was our definition of spam (that is to say I think we were confused on each other's definition). I agree that deceptive spam where the spammer hides their true identity and offers no valid product should be eliminated.
permalink · 2002-02-13 14:11:12 · Reply to this

WildGod
God Is Dead
Premium
join:2002-01-30
NYC

Re: Spam = Jail Time!

then we finally agree.
but even with legal commercial email i feel there should be a way to opt out.
hey some ppl dont mind advertisment in their emails but some of us do so i at least want that option.
--
AOL DSL SUCKS
permalink · 2002-02-13 15:20:15 · Reply to this

ballszzee

join:2001-07-26
Las Vegas, NV

 I dislike spam advertizing as much as anyone. Yet, any good free email client/program is easily configurable to stop 99% of spam (eg. incredimail.com and some isps). When is the FTC to concentrate on "deceptive telco practices" (called "slamming" at FTC.gov)? (that defraud Americans out of millions more than email advertizers!)
[text was edited by author 2002-02-15 06:07:24]
permalink · 2002-02-15 06:02:48 · Reply to this
latenite6

join:2002-01-30
New Cumberland, PA

Re: Spam = Jail Time!

Filtering 99% of Spam, no. Filtering (and blocking) 99% of stopping your mail, that is more realistic. I will agree that filtering your mail is something that everyone should learn and take advantage of. However, there are those out there that just can't grasp the concept of setting up a filter to block one message with out it affecting another. The more filters you have in place, the more complex the filtering scheme becomes.

I personally will always use filters. ISPs, the government, and filtering services (Brightmail and other) can't stop it all. However, (as much as I hate to admit it) right now this looks like a positive step.

Latenite

said by ballszzee:
I dislike spam advertizing as much as anyone. Yet, any good free email client/program is easily configurable to stop 99% of spam (eg. incredimail.com and some isps). [text was edited by author 2002-02-15 06:07:24]
permalink · 2002-03-12 15:54:04 · Print · Reply to this

PTS
Premium
join:2001-12-13
Charlotte, NC
clubs:		 I say:

1. Great!
2. Screw opt-out; make the lusers use opt-IN!
3. Hope the rest of the lusers are reading...
--
The avalanche has already started. It is too late for the pebbles to vote.
permalink · 2002-03-12 11:14:05 · Reply to this

SpammerMAn

@207.148.x.x

PhantomSpammer

Hmmm now I can target spammers with my spam mail on how my new process can protect them from FTC and they can keep on spamming!!!!!!!!!!!!

I will make millions!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
permalink · 2002-02-12 11:38:43 · Reply to this

DrStrange
Technically feasible
Premium
join:2001-07-23
West Hartford, CT
·magicjack.com
·Stephouse Networks
·EarthLink

It's a start

Well, I suppose it's a start. They need to keep it up until the header-forgers, SMTP-hijackers and everyone else who breaks the rules of the Internet (netiquette and most AUP's say 'no spam') go back to running three-card monte, shell-game and boiler-factory telemarketing scams. Eventually we'll have a federal law (I want the Washington state law, not CT's, which only bans forging of headers and return addresses - I've got my small claims forms ready!), I suppose, but it would be nice to see the Internet police its own, with a little help from the FTC.

I wondered why my Hotmail junk box was empty this morning .
permalink · 2002-02-12 11:39:37 · Print · Reply to this

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·AT&T Midwest
·Site5.com
·Comcast

Best to have a backup plan

Lets face it, arrests and crackdowns on spam won't fix the problem. Spammers will always be around and email addresses will always be sold. The best way to combat spam is to have two addresses...a spam address and a personal email address. This is what I have.

When I sign up on a website, use the spam address. When I hand email out to friends of mine, use the personal address. I get about 50 spam emails a day and I don't care cause it all goes to the spam account. Simple "select all" and "delete"
--
Nightfall - »www.nightfall.net
permalink · 2002-02-12 12:25:48 · Print · Reply to this

richb01803
Rich

join:2001-02-14
02100

Re: Best to have a backup plan

Your idea really doesn't work. And it "lets the terrorists win" because you can't keep a permanent "personal email address". Over time more people will find out that address, and it will eventually work its way into a spammer's list.

I want my personal email address of the past 10 years to be the same for the next 10 years. Or the next 50 years.

Riddle me that, Congress.
permalink · 2002-02-12 12:38:51 · Reply to this

Nightfall
My Goal Is To Deny Yours
Premium,MVM
join:2001-08-03
Grand Rapids, MI
·AT&T Midwest
·Site5.com
·Comcast

Re: Best to have a backup plan

Works for me. I have had the same personal address for 5 years. No spam mail yet.

You are right, it doesn't solve the spamming problem. My solution doesn't solve it...but it does provide a way to avoid the problem until something is done about it.
--
Nightfall - »www.nightfall.net
permalink · 2002-02-12 12:42:58 · Reply to this

WildGod
God Is Dead
Premium
join:2002-01-30
NYC

 Why should we have to go through the trouble of having a backup?
Let these spammers serve some time for any illegal activities they engage in.

We shouldnt have to compromise. Most spam is in some form a scam or deceptive and should be dealt with by legal authorities.
--
AOL DSL SUCKS
permalink · 2002-02-13 10:53:35 · Reply to this

ballszzee

join:2001-07-26
Las Vegas, NV

 Backup plan? I just let all potential spammers have my hotmail/yahoo addresses. Spam that may show at personal addresses are put in the poop shute with 2 mouse clicks (blocked and returned to sender).
permalink · 2002-02-15 06:45:16 · Reply to this

kilingspam

join:2001-04-30
San Jose, CA

My wet dream come true!

Looks like I can finally take my vacation!
Kilingspam is doing the Happy Dance!!!
Finally a real message will be sent to this jerks that spam thousands, hijack open relays, and rip off unsuspecting web newbies!
permalink · 2002-02-12 12:36:55 · Reply to this

master1000

join:2001-02-22
Fort Pierre, SD

It has been long overdue

I only wish we could do something about all the out of coutry spammers.
permalink · 2002-02-12 13:01:40 · Reply to this

richb01803
Rich

join:2001-02-14
02100

Re: It has been long overdue

North-Atlantic Anti-spam Treaty Organization?

[text was edited by author 2002-02-12 13:57:08]
permalink · 2002-02-12 13:56:26 · Reply to this

ArchAngel21x
MacFan Pro
Premium
join:2001-10-28
Lincoln, NE

Yeah, it is all good until

Just wait till this spam crap comes in from another country that is not exactly on good terms with us. Then what are you going to do about it?
--
Arch Angel - "Death is irrelevant"
permalink · 2002-02-12 16:21:32 · Reply to this

twong
Premium
join:2002-01-31
Hartford, CT

Re: Yeah, it is all good until

Cant we blackhole their website?

Since they're out of the country the Feds cant touch us.
permalink · 2002-02-12 16:26:52 · Reply to this
andreo

join:2001-03-30
Des Moines, IA

May not stop, maybe slow spam down

While I don't think that it will stop all spam. I do think it will slow it down. Then every Tom, Dick, and Harry won't be flooding mail boxes in hopes of making a quick million in a week. That will leave just the professional spammers to go after. At least some of the spam from the pros are amusing.
permalink · 2002-02-12 16:24:21 · Reply to this

Jigsaw
Stardust We Are
Premium
join:2000-10-21
Cleveland, OH
·Cox HSI

Aol may lose a few million people now

If thats what there going to do send the wagons over to aol,web tv,hotmail.I can't tell you how much crap i get from them a-holes on those isp's."dude you won a million dollers just give me your credit card".Boy the cells will be filling up with spammers(thats a good thing tho:))
permalink · 2002-02-13 00:32:23 · Reply to this
englishpaulm

join:2002-03-12
Arlington, MA

SpamSubtract

See »SpamSubtract.com for info about another new program coming to fight spam.
permalink · 2002-03-12 01:45:45 · Reply to this
bozothedog

join:2001-05-02
Birmingham, AL

I get SPAM on email addresses I've just set up!!!

How do you not get SPAM?

I just set up my alternate email addresses on my new comcast account, and have yet to even use them. I'm getting SPAM on them!

What really ticks me off is that I know a guy who quit his job and sells spam-ware full time. I have a mind to forward every piece of spam I get to him. Check out www.arkysoft.com if you don't believe me.

He even promotes "relay sniper" as a program to help people find and close open SMTP relays in order to fight spam. What a load.
[text was edited by author 2002-03-12 13:54:22]
permalink · 2002-03-12 13:48:50 · Print · Reply to this
russotto

join:2000-10-05
Collegeville, PA

There's a dark side

Net anonymity would be made illegal by the laws many here so gleefully endorse.

Be careful what you wish for,
permalink · 2002-03-12 14:57:56 · Reply to this
mastakard

join:2001-06-14
Hayward, CA

I've been saying it for years

Washington state had the right idea - give us hardcore anti-spam types the legal right to haul spammers before a magistrate and demand payment for spewing into our mailboxes. If that bill became national law, I think spam would all but disappear.

Granted, most spammers don't have much in the way of money, but hell, even if all they have is a 286, you know they have that. Heh. I'd start mounting PC's and Mac's on the wall as trophies

I figure at $500 a message, their computer should just about cover it.
permalink · 2002-03-13 23:54:30 · Print · Reply to this
Forums » FTC Swings their new Anti-Spam Bat

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