Alleged World Class Spammer Shut Down

[MikeRogers]

These guys had it coming -

World's biggest alleged spammer shut down - UPI.com

[Michael Oksa]

HOORAY!!!!

[Ryan Dodson]

So that's what happened to those emails...

I was about to finally buy something, too.

(just kidding )

Internet Justice has been served!

[Chris Lockwood]

Is anyone noticing a decrease in spam today? I'm not, just as I never have when they've announced one of these big busts.

[Michael Oksa]

Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood

Is anyone noticing a decrease in spam today? I'm not, just as I never have when they've announced one of these big busts.

Nope. Still getting just as much spam, BUT every time they shut one of these dipsticks down, it sends the right message.

Eventually you will notice a drop, or do you think spammers shouldn't be prosecuted?

~Michael

[warriorprocessing]

Another one bites the dust. Great!

[Chris Lockwood]

I knew somebody would misread my post. My point is, every time they bust one of these people, they say it's going to cut the amount of spam, but that never seems to happen.

[Clyde Dennis]

Originally Posted by Michael Oksa

...do you think spammers shouldn't be prosecuted?

Not only prosecuted but also made to face some of the stiffest penalties any criminal faces if or when convicted. The reason I say this is NO world class spammer has ever spammed, not knowing they were spamming. They made a choice to be annoying. For that I say throw the book at em.

[lgibbon]

Originally Posted by Chris Lockwood

I knew somebody would misread my post. My point is, every time they bust one of these people, they say it's going to cut the amount of spam, but that never seems to happen.

If you look at most of the spam everyday, they are nearly all using one of the popular payment processors to sell their junk.

Why hasn't anyone put pressure on the payment processors to kill these accounts?

Maybe the payment processors are making too much from it too?

[warriorprocessing]

The only time i know of that the government intervened with payment processing was about 4 yrs ago with adult websites that that set up legit accounts. Then brought in child porn after they were approved for the merchant account. Uncle Sam shut down a couple big processors over this. What is being sold has to really be bad before the gov will step in.

[gatorjack]

I agree about the payment processor thing. I think if customers would put pressure on them, then that may do something. Publish a list of payment processos that condone spamming of services sold through them.

What adds to the problem is hosting providers that allow the domains to continue to work. I've had tons of spams that trace to the Lawnchair Millionaire program. After over six months of forwarding the spams to the Deploy Linux Network, I quit forwarding them. It was a waste of my time as it was obvious the Deploy Linux Network was making money off of this unethical MLM spammer.

[MrCat]

Thank God for the spam patrol!

[lvcjmac]

Can't stand getting spammed, my gmail spam file has over 8900 pieces sitting there right now. Luckily I don't see most of it because of the filter, but it's annoying when you pop into it.

I just read another stat online that shows that between 120 billion and 140 billion spam messages are sent worldwide every day.

What a waste of everyone's time. I hope they are prosecuted to the full extent of the law and fined big bucks. The one article I read on this shows they made in excess of $3 million in commissions between Sept. and Dec. of 2007.

[Quilst]

The SPAM boys have got their butts kicked

[Spike SpiegelIM]

Serves em right... The world is better off..

[DBryan78324]

Originally Posted by lgibbon

If you look at most of the spam everyday, they are nearly all using one of the popular payment processors to sell their junk.

Why hasn't anyone put pressure on the payment processors to kill these accounts?

Maybe the payment processors are making too much from it too?

I agree with you 100%, and your last sentence is probably the big reason, plus there is so much spam on the Internet that it probably is to much to be able to control. Everyone selling anything on the Internet should be required to have it approved by a business like the old time House Keeping seal of approval. Now there is you a new idea for a business...
Dave

[Chris Lockwood]

Originally Posted by lgibbon

If you look at most of the spam everyday, they are nearly all using one of the popular payment processors to sell their junk.

Most of the spam I get doesn't even have a link to buy anything.

[Chris Lockwood]

Originally Posted by DBryan78324

Everyone selling anything on the Internet should be required to have it approved by a business like the old time House Keeping seal of approval.

That may be the single worst idea ever.

[Mike Hill]

****... Now I need to find a new supplier of "male-enhancement" pills

[KimBeckers]

Well, its about time, our inbox's are a little safer, at least from these guys for the moment.

[Paul Myers]

Chris,

Is anyone noticing a decrease in spam today? I'm not, just as I never have when they've announced one of these big busts.

That one won't cause a drop. They hire the senders. Cutting off the senders themselves will - and recently did - mean a drop of 75% in global spam levels.

The Future of Spam and Cyber-Crime TalkBiz News: The Blog


Paul

[davezan]

Originally Posted by Paul Myers

Chris,That one won't cause a drop. They hire the senders. Cutting off the senders themselves will - and recently did - mean a drop of 75% in global spam levels.

The Future of Spam and Cyber-Crime TalkBiz News: The Blog


Paul

Yup. Even confirmed by some hosts talking about it:

You be the judge: McColo Major Source of Online Scams and Spams Knocked Offline - Web Hosting Talk - The largest, most influential web hosting community on the Internet

[Paul Myers]

Dave,

Yup. Even confirmed by some hosts talking about it:

I've heard from people in most of the big ISPs, from folks at blacklists, and all over the place. The estimates are from 50% to more than 75%, but they're all Really Really Big.

If folks understood the potential problems lurking behind those botnets, they'd be more careful about letting their systems get infected. They are the WMDs of the digital world.


Paul

[lgibbon]

Originally Posted by DBryan78324

plus there is so much spam on the Internet that it probably is to much to be able to control.

Exactly, because there are so many options for spammers to use.

But there are very few payment processors by comparison.