Federal regulators try to shut down deceptive spam e-mail operation - GoFuckYourself.com

Sarah_Jayne · 04-17-2003, 10:22 AM

Federal regulators try to shut down deceptive spam e-mail operation
By David Ho, Associated Press, 4/17/2003 11:39

WASHINGTON (AP) Federal regulators want to shut down a spam operation that allegedly used deceptive e-mail with bland subject lines like ''new movie info'' and ''did you hear the news'' to lure people to pornographic Web sites.

The Federal Trade Commission said Thursday that after receiving about 46,000 complaints it had asked a federal judge to halt the operation until there can be a trial. It is the first FTC case involving spam with deceptive subject lines, the agency said.

''When consumers opened the e-mail messages, they were immediately subjected to sexually explicit solicitations,'' the FTC said. ''Because of the deceptive subject lines, consumers had no reason to expect to see such material.''

Children may have been exposed to the pornographic e-mail, the agency said.

The FTC accused Brian D. Westby, of suburban St. Louis, of using the e-mail spam operation to drive business to an adult Web site called ''Married But Lonely.''

Westby could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday.

Using a practice called ''spoofing,'' the spam also contained false information about who sent the e-mail, the FTC said. Responses to the spam flooded the e-mail accounts of people uninvolved with the operation.

''It unfairly portrayed these innocent bystanders as duplicitous spammers, often resulting in their receiving hundreds of angry e-mails from those that had been spammed,'' the FTC said.

Consumers who selected an option to ''unsubscribe'' and stop receiving these e-mails received an error message, the agency said.

The agency's commissioners voted 5-0 file the complaint in U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

On the Net:

FTC: http://www.ftc.gov

http://www.boston.com/dailynews/107/..._shut%3A.shtml

Snake Doctor · 04-17-2003, 10:48 AM

Good for them

You know when the war started I started getting all kinds of porn spam with subject lines like "saddam captured" and "video from the front lines" and "support our troops"
That's just sick.

SothArtist · 04-17-2003, 10:54 AM

Cool

Spammers like that need a good head kicking.

GotGauge · 04-17-2003, 01:35 PM

Interlude · 04-17-2003, 01:52 PM

chupacabra · 04-17-2003, 01:53 PM

Theo · 04-17-2003, 01:55 PM

hm,i remember this guy

Fletch XXX · 04-17-2003, 01:57 PM

its always about porn, one way or the other.

titmowse · 04-17-2003, 02:07 PM

what i really really hate r those spams with the fake reply in the subject line:

re:here's that file you asked for

that just chaps my big texas ass

SothArtist · 04-17-2003, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by titmowse
what i really really hate r those spams with the fake reply in the subject line:

re:here's that file you asked for

that just chaps my big texas ass

Haha From what I hear about Texas, those spammers wouldn't last too long there

Sharky · 04-17-2003, 02:28 PM

It's idiots like this one that paint a shitty image for mailers and the adult industry..

1) he was spoofing the from and mail info
2) he didn't abide by laws to put (adv:adlt or adv:adult) in the subject.
3) remove link didn't work.

that's bullshit!

This isn't a crack down on adult porn or mailing.. but a crack down on an idiot who cannot follow the rules!

46,000 complaints??? damn. it was probably a general internet list too!

fuck him!

04-17-2003, 10:22 AM	#1
Sarah_Jayne Now with more Jayne Industry Role: Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 40,077	Federal regulators try to shut down deceptive spam e-mail operation Federal regulators try to shut down deceptive spam e-mail operation By David Ho, Associated Press, 4/17/2003 11:39 WASHINGTON (AP) Federal regulators want to shut down a spam operation that allegedly used deceptive e-mail with bland subject lines like ''new movie info'' and ''did you hear the news'' to lure people to pornographic Web sites. The Federal Trade Commission said Thursday that after receiving about 46,000 complaints it had asked a federal judge to halt the operation until there can be a trial. It is the first FTC case involving spam with deceptive subject lines, the agency said. ''When consumers opened the e-mail messages, they were immediately subjected to sexually explicit solicitations,'' the FTC said. ''Because of the deceptive subject lines, consumers had no reason to expect to see such material.'' Children may have been exposed to the pornographic e-mail, the agency said. The FTC accused Brian D. Westby, of suburban St. Louis, of using the e-mail spam operation to drive business to an adult Web site called ''Married But Lonely.'' Westby could not immediately be reached for comment Thursday. Using a practice called ''spoofing,'' the spam also contained false information about who sent the e-mail, the FTC said. Responses to the spam flooded the e-mail accounts of people uninvolved with the operation. ''It unfairly portrayed these innocent bystanders as duplicitous spammers, often resulting in their receiving hundreds of angry e-mails from those that had been spammed,'' the FTC said. Consumers who selected an option to ''unsubscribe'' and stop receiving these e-mails received an error message, the agency said. The agency's commissioners voted 5-0 file the complaint in U. S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. On the Net: FTC: http://www.ftc.gov http://www.boston.com/dailynews/107/..._shut%3A.shtml

04-17-2003, 10:48 AM	#2
Snake Doctor I'm Lenny2 Bitch Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: On top of my soapbox Posts: 13,449	Good for them You know when the war started I started getting all kinds of porn spam with subject lines like "saddam captured" and "video from the front lines" and "support our troops" That's just sick. __________________ sig too big

04-17-2003, 01:35 PM	#4
GotGauge Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2001 Location: USA Posts: 3,072	__________________ ICQ 22264474 [email protected]

04-17-2003, 01:57 PM	#8
Fletch XXX GFY HALL OF FAME DAMMIT!!! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: that 504 Posts: 60,840	its always about porn, one way or the other. __________________ Want an Android App for your tube, membership, or free site? Need banners or promo material? Hit us up (ICQ Fletch: 148841377) or email me fletchxxx at gmail.com - recent work - About me

04-17-2003, 02:07 PM	#9
titmowse Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Jan 2001 Location: TEXAS Posts: 5,320	what i really really hate r those spams with the fake reply in the subject line: re:here's that file you asked for that just chaps my big texas ass __________________ I still love everybody

04-17-2003, 10:54 AM	#3
SothArtist Registered User Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Australia Posts: 366	Cool Spammers like that need a good head kicking.

04-17-2003, 01:52 PM	#5
Interlude Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: State of Denial Posts: 1,147

04-17-2003, 01:53 PM	#6
chupacabra Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2002 Posts: 3,626

04-17-2003, 01:55 PM	#7
Theo HAL 9000 Industry Role: Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 34,515	hm,i remember this guy

04-17-2003, 02:28 PM	#11
Sharky Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Tampa, FL Posts: 4,938	It's idiots like this one that paint a shitty image for mailers and the adult industry.. 1) he was spoofing the from and mail info 2) he didn't abide by laws to put (adv:adlt or adv:adult) in the subject. 3) remove link didn't work. that's bullshit! This isn't a crack down on adult porn or mailing.. but a crack down on an idiot who cannot follow the rules! 46,000 complaints??? damn. it was probably a general internet list too! fuck him! __________________ Sharky