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story category AOL Raffles Off Spammer's Hummer, Gold Bars
'We think it's justice'
(old news - 03:12PM Wednesday Aug 10 2005)
tags: spam
The Register points out how AOL is raffling off a spammer's Hummer, $20,000 in gold bars (see photo) and $75,000 in cash to an AOL member. The booty was seized after AOL sued a young New Hampshire penis pill purveyor using the CAN SPAM Act. "We think it's justice," says an AOL attorney. "We're taking the ill-gotten bounty these spammers have earned off the backs of our customers and handing it back to customers."

Related:
  1. Scammers Try To Salvage McColo Data
  2. McColo Closure Forces BotNet Shift
  3. Can Spam Act Celebrates Five Years Of Ineffectiveness
  4. Google #4 On Spamhaus Spam Network List
  5. AT&T Slammed For Text Message Spam
  6. Verizon To Finally Crack Down On Spam
  7. Your Constitutional Right To Spam
  8. FTC Shuts Down 'Rogue' ISP
Forums » AOL Raffles Off Spammer's Hummer, Gold Bars
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John Galt
Forward, March
Premium
join:2004-09-30
Happy Camp

My Final Offer

$500 for the $75,000 in cash...!


--
A is A

Derch
Premium
join:2004-10-16
Tulsa, OK

My God...

"AOL will find you and sue you."

Sounds like one of there publicity stunts.
fiberguy
My views are my own.
Premium
join:2005-05-20

Re: My God...

said by Derch See Profile:

"AOL will find you and sue you."

Sounds like one of there publicity stunts.
I too see it as publicity, but a stunt? I wouldn't say it was a stunt. If AOL is serious about stopping, spam and this action is further proof of that, then I'd say that this is more along the lines of making an examnple of the loosers.

I'll remember this story every time I delete my 60 spam messages a day.

jmycknshk
...bring your green hat

join:2004-07-02
West Chester, PA

Re: My God...

yep, make a big commotion, kinda like when the cops seize a bunch of drugs. look what we did...

they try to scare others by making an example of one individual.

of you've ever seen the movie "hackers" you'll know what i talk about.

tapeloop
1959. I try to kick the ball. I miss.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One

lol @ AOL

Well, they sued, they won, they can do with the booty as they see fit.

One would think that they would take that cash and use it towards shoring up their ever-shrinking subscriber base. I'm just saying.
--
Copyright infringement is illegal. Murder is illegal. Therefore, file sharing is murder.

martissimo

join:2001-12-01
Las Vegas, NV
clubs:

Re: lol @ AOL

in a way they are though aren't they, think of this little giveaway as "advertising", even the most hardened of us who can't stand em well be hard pressed not to give em a lil thumbs up on this one

IT Guy
Ow, My Balls
Premium
join:2004-07-29
Las Cruces, NM
clubs:

Re: lol @ AOL

Soon they'll be as dead as CompuServ and Prodigy.
digital k
Premium
join:2003-12-25

Re: lol @ AOL

...said 10 years ago, and they are still here.
markosjal

join:2005-08-06
Mexico
Prodigy has like 70% of the broadband market in Mexico by way of Telmex! That's right, and ya know what? The guy would not have lost his hummer or anything had he spammed from Mexico!

mrchris
We don't miss you Bush
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join:2002-10-01
North Babylon, NY
·Verizon FIOS
·Optimum Online

said by tapeloop See Profile:

Well, they sued, they won, they can do with the booty as they see fit.

One would think that they would take that cash and use it towards shoring up their ever-shrinking subscriber base. I'm just saying.
They should confenscate his computer hardware, format the drives and put it up as done with his vehicle.

lazsheriff
Laz

join:2005-01-03
Fort Lauderdale, FL

1 edit

all of this...

All of this before he even hit 21.
I wonder what he told his parents when they asked what he did for a living.
--
1.33ghz G4 14" ibook -1.25 GB ram

2ghz P4 dual boot XP and Ubuntu -1.5 GB ram

SweetDelight
lagomorph
Premium
join:2004-09-04
Earth

Aren't We forgetting

Aren't We forgetting AOL sucks Still.
johnbor

join:2004-03-30
Burton, OH

Re: Aren't We forgetting

Oh yeah they sure cleaned him out, isn't this the kid that raked in over 900 grand... oh yeah ,, they hurt him.. Oh and AOL STILL SUCKS...

Tzale
Proud Libertarian Conservative
Premium
join:2004-01-06
Sweden
·Verizon FIOS
·Optimum Online

Re: Aren't We forgetting

said by johnbor See Profile:

Oh yeah they sure cleaned him out, isn't this the kid that raked in over 900 grand... oh yeah ,, they hurt him.. Oh and AOL STILL SUCKS...
Every topic on BBR that even remotely is about AOL (doing good ) will have its share of bashers. Why? Because they have nothing better to do. Before I even clicked on the link to expand the thread here with comments, I knew I was going to read exactly what you said. Just goes to show you that fools are so unintelligent that the human mind can predict their moves long before they ever make them (in this case, before I clicked the link).

-Tzale
--
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DaMaGeINC
The Lan Man
Premium
join:2002-06-08
Greenville, SC
clubs:

Re: Aren't We forgetting

Why on every topic on BBR that ever remotely is about AOL has an Anti-Basher bashing all the AOL bashers???

CO_Chris
Premium
join:2001-08-28
Broomfield, CO

Re: Aren't We forgetting

I was a basher but Hey for free with RR i will take it

Tsume

join:2004-02-23
Johnson City, TN
Why does every topic on AOL have an anti-anti-basher who bashes the anti-basher who bashes the bashers of AOL?

Yeah, shutup, thanks
Shadye
Premium
join:2004-10-21
Fallbrook, CA

Re: Aren't We forgetting

Why does every topic on AOL have an anti-anti-anti basher who bashes the anti-anti-basher who bashes the anti-basher who bashes the bashers of AOL?

DiscardedVet
Premium
join:2005-04-06
Sturgis, SD

Re: Aren't We forgetting

said by Shadye See Profile:

Why does every topic on AOL have an anti-anti-anti basher who bashes the anti-anti-basher who bashes the anti-basher who bashes the bashers of AOL?
Great, now the word "anti" sounds strange to me [effect on human brain of saying a word too many times], lol.

I'm an AOL Basher, but only in threads pertaining to AOL screwing up, this isn't one of them. I actually find it hard to understand "why" bash on a posative occurance?

Ah well, on with the ntia itan tani .... dammit, ANTI !!!

DV

Brownbay
Premium
join:2005-03-13
North York, ON

Can someone explain a few things here...

1. How the hell did he rake in so much cash from spamming? Sure the company he's spamming for would pay him... but this much?
2. Can we not go after companies that stoop so low as to employ spammers to market their products? And if so, why aren't we?

DaMaGeINC
The Lan Man
Premium
join:2002-06-08
Greenville, SC
clubs:
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·AT&T Southeast

Re: Aren't We forgetting

said by Brownbay See Profile:

Can someone explain a few things here...

1. How the hell did he rake in so much cash from spamming? Sure the company he's spamming for would pay him... but this much?
2. Can we not go after companies that stoop so low as to employ spammers to market their products? And if so, why aren't we?
Im also wondering. I might become a spammer now.
--
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xdeadhead
220, 221, Whatever It Takes.
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Mechanicsburg, PA

1 edit

Re: Aren't We forgetting

How the hell did he rake in so much cash from spamming?

cause the majority of folks that use aol are morons. here's your sign.
--
I am not Herbert.

Tzale
Proud Libertarian Conservative
Premium
join:2004-01-06
Sweden
·Verizon FIOS
·Optimum Online

Re: Aren't We forgetting

said by xdeadhead See Profile:

How the hell did he rake in so much cash from spamming?

cause the majority of folks that use aol are morons. here's your sign.
I wonder how many of your family members (who share your last name) use AOL? I bet a couple.... AOL is not for morons, you are a moron for saying that. AOL is a service designed for kids and the computer illiterate. Guess what! Do you know jack shit about ham radio? No? Then don't speak, because you have been reduced to that of a moron.....

-Tzale
--
Electronic Frontier Foundation - Defending Freedom in the Digital WorldPetition to the President - Protect Our Borders! Sign the Petition!

DaMaGeINC
The Lan Man
Premium
join:2002-06-08
Greenville, SC
clubs:

Re: Aren't We forgetting

You should switch over to AOL and use it for a few months, then come back and try to defend them... By then, you wouldent have any hair and have become dumber using their software.

IT Guy
Ow, My Balls
Premium
join:2004-07-29
Las Cruces, NM
clubs:
I know about AOL and it sucks. It's also for those whom are completely inept when it comes to basic computing.
--
My time is a piece of wax, falling on a termite, that's choking on a splinter. --Beck
xirian
Premium
join:2003-01-26
Beacon, NY

said by Tzale See Profile:

said by xdeadhead See Profile:

How the hell did he rake in so much cash from spamming?

cause the majority of folks that use aol are morons. here's your sign.
I wonder how many of your family members (who share your last name) use AOL? I bet a couple.... AOL is not for morons, you are a moron for saying that. AOL is a service designed for kids and the computer illiterate. Guess what! Do you know jack shit about ham radio? No? Then don't speak, because you have been reduced to that of a moron.....

-Tzale
Aol is for morons who dont want to learn the real internet. This has nothing to do with ham radios at all, ive not seen an aol equivilent for that. Theres a difference between not knowing and using an overpriced peice of crap so you dont have to know.

CurtesyFlush
Bababooey, fafafooey, tatatoothy.
Premium
join:2002-08-23
Fontana, CA

said by Tzale See Profile:

said by xdeadhead See Profile:

How the hell did he rake in so much cash from spamming?

cause the majority of folks that use aol are morons. here's your sign.
I wonder how many of your family members (who share your last name) use AOL? I bet a couple.... AOL is not for morons, you are a moron for saying that. AOL is a service designed for kids and the computer illiterate. Guess what! Do you know jack shit about ham radio? No? Then don't speak, because you have been reduced to that of a moron.....

-Tzale
So you're a ham radio moron as well as an AOL moron? Poor guy.....
--
Some mornings it just doesn't seem worth it to gnaw through the leather straps. -- Emo Phillips

xdeadhead
220, 221, Whatever It Takes.
Premium
join:2000-11-08
Mechanicsburg, PA
·Verizon FIOS
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1 edit

Re: Aren't We forgetting (OT 2nd part)

yeah like we can take anything else from the aol fanboy seriously? come on. LMAO that's my final thought on that matter.
and now for something compltely different....
i really miss getting my news from Peter Jennings. he was a good guy.
--
I am not Herbert.
rhexis

join:2002-05-18
Gilbertsville, PA

exactly none of my family members use aol. thats none, zero, nada. aol sucks and its sole purpose is to cater to morons who cannot figure out how to get on the internet. these morons have no business being on the internet in the first place. truth be told they shouldnt even have computers. oh and ham radio is ghey too. the phrase "ham radio" for me conjures up a mental image of some unemployed loser living in his moms basement.

91439306
15,000 Watts of Bass Power

join:2002-10-16
New Milford, CT

said by DaMaGeINC See Profile:

said by Brownbay See Profile:

Can someone explain a few things here...

1. How the hell did he rake in so much cash from spamming? Sure the company he's spamming for would pay him... but this much?
2. Can we not go after companies that stoop so low as to employ spammers to market their products? And if so, why aren't we?
Im also wondering. I might become a spammer now.
Me too. But if my property taxes keep going the way they are, I'll soon be forced to do something like this just to survive.. or maybe move to a third world country and spam from there (since there are no jobs for retired Americans in third world countries).
--
Take care,

Mark & Mary Ann Weiss

Hear my Kurzweil Creations at: »www.dv-clips.com/theater.htm
www.mwcomms.com/auctions.htm
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tapeloop
1959. I try to kick the ball. I miss.
Premium
join:2004-06-27
Airstrip One

Re: Aren't We forgetting

said by 91439306 See Profile:

said by DaMaGeINC See Profile:

said by Brownbay See Profile:

Can someone explain a few things here...

1. How the hell did he rake in so much cash from spamming? Sure the company he's spamming for would pay him... but this much?
2. Can we not go after companies that stoop so low as to employ spammers to market their products? And if so, why aren't we?
Im also wondering. I might become a spammer now.
Me too. But if my property taxes keep going the way they are, I'll soon be forced to do something like this just to survive.. or maybe move to a third world country and spam from there (since there are no jobs for retired Americans in third world countries).
This is assuming that your house wouldn't be first confiscated by the gubmint to make room for that new shopping center.
--
Copyright infringement is illegal. Murder is illegal. Therefore, file sharing is murder.

Jason Levine
Premium
join:2001-07-13
USA

said by Brownbay See Profile:

Can someone explain a few things here...

1. How the hell did he rake in so much cash from spamming? Sure the company he's spamming for would pay him... but this much?
It's easy. If a spammer sends out 10 million e-mails and 1/100th of 1 percent buy an average of $10 worth of material, the spammer has earned $10,000. His costs are relatively low since he foists the bandwidth costs on others (via open relays and/or trojaned systems). After a few mailings, he'll be able to earn more than most of the folks who hang out here.

Of course, this is a simplification. Not all spammers are successful. Some wind up being multi-millionaires and some wind up dirt poor. Some, like the spammer from the article, might make millions and then get caught and have them taken away.

said by Brownbay See Profile:

2. Can we not go after companies that stoop so low as to employ spammers to market their products? And if so, why aren't we?
The problem is tracking the money. Sometimes the companies genuinely don't know that their products are being offered via spam. Sometimes, in the case of software, the real sellers are stores that would otherwise sell the product legitimately via a web site or a physical shop. Sometimes the product is pirated and being sold. Should we punish Symantec because a pirated copy of Norton Anti-Virus is being sold via spam?

Even if the spam is being paid for directly by the company, most companies will be smart enough to cover their tracks. They'll claim that they didn't know that the person they hired was spamming. In short, it's not as easy as it sounds.
--
-Jason Levine
http://www.jasons-toolbox.com/
http://www.PCQandA.com/
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Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
i take it we still need to use the courts to handle spammers and cant just lynch them and drag em behind pickup trucks. then take all their booty.

Arrrrr
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports
Kearnstd
Elf Wizard
Premium
join:2002-01-22
Mullica Hill, NJ
Take the house, and the 50 barrels of Mercury under it. bye bye.........
--
[65 Arcanist]Filan(High Elf) Zone: Broadband Reports
mooty

join:2001-01-28
Riverdale, GA

Speaking of. . .

I will take the penis pills, $10 for all of them..final offer

MysticGogeta
The Robot Devil
Premium
join:2005-03-14
League City, TX
clubs:

Spammers payed? i want in

Who pays you to spam this dont even work i love to spam but not in russia that guy got beaten to death

GOLFnSUN
Enjoy the sun
Premium
join:2002-03-03
Avalon, NJ
·Sprint Mobile Broa..
·Comcast

Good for AOL; now find the other 50,000 spammers

I think it is great they got this guy. But find all the other spammers out there(at least the ones in the US) and do the same thing.
--
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Join Red Room Forum
biochemistry

join:2003-05-09
92361

AOL

And AOL continues to make good decisions. What is with them over the past 6 months or so?

shrtckt1
Fried Rice
Premium
join:2005-05-18
Athens, GA

One for AOL

I am NOT a AOL fan. But, at least they burnt one of these aholes. I don't see any other provider showing off their catches.

khc987

join:2001-08-22
Jacksonville, FL

this is the second time they have done this

from article...It's the second time AOL has given away assets confiscated from a spammer. Last year, AOL raffled a $45,000 Porsche Boxster it seized as part of a settlement against another unnamed junk mail scumbag. ...
reslor1

join:2003-01-10
Hackettstown, NJ

Spam to stop spam

So I guess AOL is going to spam their members with info on how to get in on the rafle to win a spammers car?
BarneyBadAss
Badasses Fight For Freedom
Premium
join:2004-05-07
00001
·Verizon FIOS

WW_D?

WW_D = "What Would _your_isp_ Do?"

_your_isp_ has this functionality on thier web email interface tha allows it's users to report some stuff as "SPAM".

So, the users use the interface and report the SPAM, but it continually flows into our mail boxes.

Now, if _your_isp_ went after someone like this, instead of having a download cap enforced on someone; I can only imagine they would put an "Upload" limit on the person.

Wouldn't it be funny if _your_isp_ caught and prosicuted someone like this, can't you imagine they wouldn't give the booty to it's customers. I suspect _your_isp_ would take the Hummer; paint it to the approprite colors; melt down the gold and make rings and trinkets for it's executives; and do all kinds of other things; then just to be sure things werre on the up and up; they would raise your rates to cover the cost of the litigation!!! ARGHHHHHHH!!!!!!
--
---Barney
Derfel

join:2004-06-06
Winnipeg, MB

Hmmm...

I wonder if I can sue AOL for all those crap discs they sent to my house, my place of work and my school years back.

Naw... a few more years and AOL's stuff will be on the auction block anyways.

nohelpWA

join:2001-12-06
Federal Way, WA

Get off AOL's back...at least they ARE serious!

If you don't like AOL then fine don't use them. They "AOL" make the internet safer and easier for alot of people, like my far-away Mom! If they seem to be promoting themselves then so be it. Other internet provider's should do the same, if they are actually actively doing something about spammers! I like the idea that they are giving the illegal gotten bounties back to their customers!

rob_in_chatt
Premium
join:2004-09-17
Chattanooga, TN

take it easy

AOL still sucks tho lol

spamworthgreen



$$$$$$$$$$$$Kaching

What I find AMAZING is that companies actually pay MONEY to these guys to send out millions of spam messages EVERY day!!! All UNCOLICITED and technically ILLEGAL under can-spam act.

You see, you've got people unemployed-- more or less following all the rules.. and people like this having gold bars, a HUMMER and tens of thousands in computer equipment and that's the TIP of the iceburg, probably. Probably the guy was at LEAST smart enough to hide some of those spam dollars in the mattress... so we also need to go after companies and businesses that SOLICIT spam kingpins and make THEM financially liable for the people they solicit for advertising!!!!
nael

join:2001-12-02

Re: $$$$$$$$$$$$Kaching

People actually buy things from spam as well, you only need 1 out of a million to actually buy the thing, and you make a profit.

Now send millions on them daily, with many objects, and the money rolls in.

JimgH

@comcast.net

Great Story!

Congrats AOL, thats a great story and a great giveaway. Gold and cash both!.... someone is going to be very happy after winning that.

sbdjaro
I Dunno
Premium
join:2004-01-29
Grand Junction, CO

Gas Money

Wow, so I guess the $75,000 is included to pay for a 3 months gas supply for the Hummer?
flynlr
Premium
join:2002-12-02
Salt Lake City, UT

Re: Gas Money

said by sbdjaro See Profile:

Wow, so I guess the $75,000 is included to pay for a 3 months gas supply for the Hummer?
i was thinking about 3 tanks of gas.

tacoma
Bleeding Dodger Blue
Premium
join:2001-05-18
Riverside, CA

Seems more like a spamming ad.

That is a badass promo for spammers. Look at what you can get, a Hummer, Money, Gold.. Forget about getting caught, the same percentage of people buy something from the spam as do spammers getting caught.
Forums » AOL Raffles Off Spammer's Hummer, Gold Barspage: 1 · 2


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