Texas spammer fined 10 million dollars - GoFuckYourself.com

Jon Clark - BANNED FOR LIFE · 06-08-2006, 10:40 PM

CHICAGO (AFP) - A college student who led a massive spam e-mail operation has been fined more than 10 million dollars, the Texas attorney general said.

ADVERTISEMENT

"Spam e-mail is not only pervasive in our society but is one of the most aggravating problems computer users face," Attorney General Greg Abbott said in a statement Wednesday.

"Today's crackdown effectively shuts down one of the worst spam operators and sends a warning to others who would engage in spam e-mailing for profit."

The former student, Ryan Pitylak, 24, and partners Mark Trotter, Gary Trappler and Alan Refaeli bombarded consumers with millions of e-mails under at least 250 assumed names, the attorney general said.

The e-mails tricked consumers into revealing personal information that was later sold to other companies despite assurances of privacy.

Pityalak was once listed as the fourth-worst spammer in the world.

The judgment was hailed by cyberspace experts who said it shows that the 2004 federal Can-Spam Act, which outlaws certain types of e-mail solicitation, is working.

"From the reports I've seen, I'd say 10 million dollars is an appropriate number, given all the misery he caused," John Levine, author of "Fighting Spam for Dummies" told the San Antonio Express.

Levine said Pitylak's abuses "were really egregious. He's sent out enormous amounts of spam and was fairly simple-minded about it. It was fairly easy to track him."

Pitylak -- who recently sold a BMW and house for 430,000 dollars -- sounded somewhat repentant in an interview with the San Antonio Express.

"This has been a real good learning experience for me," Pitylak said. "It's OK that I no longer have this stuff. It's just stuff. I feel good that I was able to cooperate. The settlement has been a bit harsh. I'm happy to move on with my life."

He said he had started an Internet security company to help protect against spam and was reluctant to describe his life in the spam industry, saying he didn't "want to give others in the spam industry information about how to do it."

Babagirls · 06-08-2006, 10:47 PM

GOOD!!! fuckin hate spammers. 1 down...

The Demon · 06-08-2006, 11:02 PM

I hate spammers as much as I hate porn pushers

woj · 06-08-2006, 11:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Demon

I hate spammers as much as I hate porn pushers

wtf are you doing here then?

HouseHead · 06-08-2006, 11:09 PM

Shoulda moved to Canada or overseas :D

fallenmuffin · 06-08-2006, 11:11 PM

If I was the fourth worst spammer in the world and my name was Pityalak I wouldn't be living in america lol

V_RocKs · 06-08-2006, 11:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woj

wtf are you doing here then?

Rubbing your leg, how does that feel?

kmanrox · 06-08-2006, 11:43 PM

oooooh the misery he caused with a couple emails in their inbox!!! the torment!! how CRUEL!!!!

lol!!

nofx · 06-08-2006, 11:45 PM

blah blah blah

youll never kill spam

brand0n · 06-08-2006, 11:48 PM

Alan Refaeli... how do i know that name...

madawgz · 06-08-2006, 11:52 PM

omfg, thats alot of money to pay...

im surprised he didnt get the death penalty in texas... :\

Webby · 06-08-2006, 11:55 PM

No panic - the check for the $10 mill fine is in the post

stev0 · 06-09-2006, 01:08 AM

good, need to clean up more scum like that.

Love Sex · 06-09-2006, 02:18 AM

no jail time, shit open the spam house. he probally doesnt care cause he has the cash hidden in a swiss bank

Philip G · 06-09-2006, 02:23 AM

I'd rather him get fucked in the ass daily than pay 10 mil

Manowar · 06-09-2006, 02:27 AM

haha owned!!

CheneyRumsfeld · 06-09-2006, 02:48 AM

all that Can Spam Act is doing is making money for the government.
doesn't stop shit.

nancycash(dot)com · 06-09-2006, 04:34 AM

if somebody pays to spammers for their job, it'll be eternal.

and fines won't help.

I'm a sig whore · 06-09-2006, 04:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nofx

blah blah blah

youll never kill spam

this is true

polish_aristocrat · 06-09-2006, 05:44 AM

seeric · 06-09-2006, 05:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kmanrox

oooooh the misery he caused with a couple emails in their inbox!!! the torment!! how CRUEL!!!!

lol!!

right. fucking like the war on drugs.

Rhesus · 06-09-2006, 05:50 AM

The way he responds is great, what a master :-)

BlackCrayon · 06-09-2006, 08:17 AM

"The e-mails tricked consumers into revealing personal information that was later sold to other companies despite assurances of privacy"

makes it sound like he was phishing. what was the charge anyways? it doesnt' even say.

WDjay · 06-09-2006, 08:20 AM

think he'll sell those lists?

WDjay · 06-09-2006, 08:20 AM

Just Kidding

DaddyHalbucks · 06-09-2006, 08:42 AM

It's like that video game where the bad guy pops up and you keep hammering him, but he keeps moving. And you keep hammering. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. It never ends.

06-08-2006, 10:40 PM	#1
Jon Clark - BANNED FOR LIFE North Coast Pimp Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: 304-534-757 Posts: 9,395	Texas spammer fined 10 million dollars CHICAGO (AFP) - A college student who led a massive spam e-mail operation has been fined more than 10 million dollars, the Texas attorney general said. ADVERTISEMENT "Spam e-mail is not only pervasive in our society but is one of the most aggravating problems computer users face," Attorney General Greg Abbott said in a statement Wednesday. "Today's crackdown effectively shuts down one of the worst spam operators and sends a warning to others who would engage in spam e-mailing for profit." The former student, Ryan Pitylak, 24, and partners Mark Trotter, Gary Trappler and Alan Refaeli bombarded consumers with millions of e-mails under at least 250 assumed names, the attorney general said. The e-mails tricked consumers into revealing personal information that was later sold to other companies despite assurances of privacy. Pityalak was once listed as the fourth-worst spammer in the world. The judgment was hailed by cyberspace experts who said it shows that the 2004 federal Can-Spam Act, which outlaws certain types of e-mail solicitation, is working. "From the reports I've seen, I'd say 10 million dollars is an appropriate number, given all the misery he caused," John Levine, author of "Fighting Spam for Dummies" told the San Antonio Express. Levine said Pitylak's abuses "were really egregious. He's sent out enormous amounts of spam and was fairly simple-minded about it. It was fairly easy to track him." Pitylak -- who recently sold a BMW and house for 430,000 dollars -- sounded somewhat repentant in an interview with the San Antonio Express. "This has been a real good learning experience for me," Pitylak said. "It's OK that I no longer have this stuff. It's just stuff. I feel good that I was able to cooperate. The settlement has been a bit harsh. I'm happy to move on with my life." He said he had started an Internet security company to help protect against spam and was reluctant to describe his life in the spam industry, saying he didn't "want to give others in the spam industry information about how to do it."

06-08-2006, 10:47 PM	#2
Babagirls Text Writer Join Date: Feb 2001 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 18,812	GOOD!!! fuckin hate spammers. 1 down... __________________ Need a Text Writer? Blogs\|Reviews\|Descriptions\|Paysites\|TGP's\|Stories ICQ: 397892500

06-08-2006, 11:02 PM	#3
The Demon Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Apr 2003 Posts: 7,336	I hate spammers as much as I hate porn pushers __________________ Greed is Good

06-08-2006, 11:09 PM	#5
HouseHead Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Aim - Hydromorphone Posts: 5,539	Shoulda moved to Canada or overseas :D __________________ The Sexiest place to Buy & Sell Adult Ads - JuicyAds is where YOUR profits matter! ---> SPOTS AVAILABLE :\|: SIGN UP RIGHT NOW <---

06-08-2006, 11:45 PM	#9
nofx Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Virgin Mary's womb Posts: 16,826	blah blah blah youll never kill spam __________________ Often times I wonder why There's love and hate, theres live or die. When sickness comes I must decide: When feelings go, theres suicide.

06-08-2006, 11:11 PM	#6
fallenmuffin Confirmed User Industry Role: Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 8,170	If I was the fourth worst spammer in the world and my name was Pityalak I wouldn't be living in america lol

06-08-2006, 11:43 PM	#8
kmanrox aka K-Man Industry Role: Join Date: Oct 2001 Location: The Gutter Posts: 29,292	oooooh the misery he caused with a couple emails in their inbox!!! the torment!! how CRUEL!!!! lol!!

06-08-2006, 11:48 PM	#10
brand0n been very busy Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: the queen city Posts: 26,983	Alan Refaeli... how do i know that name... __________________ want to buy this spot for cheap? it is of course for sale. long term deals are always the best bet. brand0n/ at/ a o l dot commies.

06-08-2006, 11:52 PM	#11
madawgz 8.8.8.8 Industry Role: Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Noordermarkt Posts: 30,509	omfg, thats alot of money to pay... im surprised he didnt get the death penalty in texas... :\ __________________ TAEMDLRMSKRJIXMRLSMRJ.

06-08-2006, 11:55 PM	#12
Webby Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Oct 2002 Location: Far far away - as possible Posts: 14,956	No panic - the check for the $10 mill fine is in the post __________________ XXX TLD's - Another mosquito to swat.

06-09-2006, 01:08 AM	#13
stev0 Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Calgary, Alberta Posts: 6,801	good, need to clean up more scum like that.

06-09-2006, 02:18 AM	#14
Love Sex Confirmed User Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 1,905	no jail time, shit open the spam house. he probally doesnt care cause he has the cash hidden in a swiss bank

06-09-2006, 02:23 AM	#15
Philip G Registered User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Midwest Posts: 43	I'd rather him get fucked in the ass daily than pay 10 mil __________________ Most of the time I'm working

06-09-2006, 02:27 AM	#16
Manowar jellyfish Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 71,528	haha owned!!

06-09-2006, 02:48 AM	#17
CheneyRumsfeld Confirmed User Join Date: Sep 2004 Posts: 1,341	all that Can Spam Act is doing is making money for the government. doesn't stop shit.

06-09-2006, 04:34 AM	#18
nancycash(dot)com Confirmed User Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 208	if somebody pays to spammers for their job, it'll be eternal. and fines won't help. __________________ NEW SOLO GIRL NANCY TITS + NANCY PUSSY = $CASH$

06-09-2006, 05:44 AM	#20
polish_aristocrat Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 40,377	__________________ I don't use ICQ anymore.

06-09-2006, 05:50 AM	#22
Rhesus Confirmed User Join Date: Aug 2004 Posts: 2,009	The way he responds is great, what a master :-)

06-09-2006, 08:17 AM	#23
BlackCrayon Too lazy to set a custom title Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: Ottawa Posts: 19,631	"The e-mails tricked consumers into revealing personal information that was later sold to other companies despite assurances of privacy" makes it sound like he was phishing. what was the charge anyways? it doesnt' even say. __________________ you don't know you're wearing a leash if you sit by the peg all day..

06-09-2006, 08:20 AM	#24
WDjay Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: So.Cal Posts: 381	think he'll sell those lists? __________________

06-09-2006, 08:20 AM	#25
WDjay Confirmed User Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: So.Cal Posts: 381	Just Kidding __________________

06-09-2006, 08:42 AM	#26
DaddyHalbucks A freakin' legend! Industry Role: Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Las Vegas, Nevada USA Posts: 18,975	It's like that video game where the bad guy pops up and you keep hammering him, but he keeps moving. And you keep hammering. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. It never ends. __________________ Boner Money