FTC shuts down porn spammers, incl. reflected.net
US agency moves to stop x-rated spamming
January 11 2005
By Laurie Kellman
Washington - The United States Federal Trade Commission has shut down six companies it accused of sending x-rated emails in disguise and fraudulently charging recipients who joined sexually explict websites in its first legal case involving pornographic Internet spam.
A federal judge on January 5 granted the agency's request for a restraining order against the companies and their executives for allegedly violating federal laws governing commercial electronic mail - commonly known as spam.
The Nevada companies named in the FTC complaint were Global Net Solutions, Open Space Enterprises, Southlake Group, and WTFRC, which does business as Reflected Networks.
Also named in the complaint were Global Net Vetures of Britain and Wedlake, whose headquarters address was not listed.
Among the laws allegedly violated was the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003.
Dubbed "Can Spam", the law requires unsolicited commercial email that contains sexually oriented material to include the words "sexually explicit" in the subject line.
Spammers who violate the rule face possible imprisonment and criminal fines of up to $250 000 for individuals and $500 000 for an organisation.
Tracking down violators can be difficult because spammers often try to escape being directly identified by using forged return addresses or by bouncing their emails through unprotected relay computers on the Internet. - Sapa-AP
January 11 2005
By Laurie Kellman
Washington - The United States Federal Trade Commission has shut down six companies it accused of sending x-rated emails in disguise and fraudulently charging recipients who joined sexually explict websites in its first legal case involving pornographic Internet spam.
A federal judge on January 5 granted the agency's request for a restraining order against the companies and their executives for allegedly violating federal laws governing commercial electronic mail - commonly known as spam.
The Nevada companies named in the FTC complaint were Global Net Solutions, Open Space Enterprises, Southlake Group, and WTFRC, which does business as Reflected Networks.
Also named in the complaint were Global Net Vetures of Britain and Wedlake, whose headquarters address was not listed.
Among the laws allegedly violated was the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003.
Dubbed "Can Spam", the law requires unsolicited commercial email that contains sexually oriented material to include the words "sexually explicit" in the subject line.
Spammers who violate the rule face possible imprisonment and criminal fines of up to $250 000 for individuals and $500 000 for an organisation.
Tracking down violators can be difficult because spammers often try to escape being directly identified by using forged return addresses or by bouncing their emails through unprotected relay computers on the Internet. - Sapa-AP
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