FTC Goes After Spammers

klaun writes: "Yahoo has an article about the FTC launching a crackdown on deceptive unsolicited email. Basically they are after scammers offering easy money quick, not the average 'get porn here' type of spam. There is more info at the in a press release at the FTC's website." TheGreatGraySkwid amplifies, saying that this story "tells of an FTC crackdown on Spammers, that had resulted in charges (settled) against 7 chain-letter ring spammers, and several pending cases. I know I could use some Spam relief..." The settlement, unfortunately, isn't exactly stern stuff: the seven spammers "agreed to refrain from participating in deceptive schemes in the future, or lying about the legality or potential earnings from any such schemes."

They're getting off too easy...

[Anonymous Coward]

If there was any justice in the world, they'd be getting ass-raped with splintered broomhandles for the next fifteen years.

Now only

[headchimp]

if they would go after the troll posts around these parts.

Let's get 'em all...

[ekrout]

Basically they are [going] after scammers offering easy money quick, not the average 'get porn here' type of spam.

I personally feel that the porm spam can be just as deceptive as the EZ $$$ NOW! scams.

I mean, let's be honest -- I'm sure we've all received dozens and dozens of emails saying that someone's site has a ton of free pics and videos of the hottest girls. But generally that's a blatant lie, and the lewd site is a reseller of explicit pornography. They simply tell a fib to get you to click on over to their site, which upon being rendered throws a half-dozen pop-up windows on the desktop.

Let's aim higher rather than just taking out the con artists alone.

Listen To My Latest Recording @ EricKrout.com [erickrout.com]

Freedom!

[SirSlud]

> agreed to refrain from participating in deceptive schemes in the future, or lying about the legality or potential earnings from any such schemes

... in fact, they were encouraged to visit an FTC hyperlink where they could enter their email addresses opt-out of receiving any warnings or punishments in the future. ;)

Just got this spam today....

[tsmit]

Just got a spam message today that was in the format of a returned mail message. Even from Mail Delivery Subsystem. The attachment was an ad for pr0n.

I hate spam as much as the next guy, but, damnit, that's almost ingenious.

Sometimes I wish I were "average"

[juggler314]

"Internet users received an average of 571 pieces of unsolicited commercial e-mail in 2001" so there are several hundred folks out there that get absolutely no spam at all to account for the 10,000 or so pieces I get a year...

Did someone in Congress finally get SPAM?

[eaddict]

I wonder which Congress person got burned on the pyrmaid thing THEN screamed it was SPAM.

A lot of the spam originates in China, so...

[Ryu2]

The Chinese government just ordered all ISPs in China to start monitoring
email for subversive phrases and the like, so just reply to
Chinese spam with little replies of the form at the end of this spam.
Might be a useful tactic on companies who think that unsolicited
email is "just regular advertising".

Bill

"Jack(export manager)" wrote:
>
> Dear Sir
> How are you .
>
> We are a lighting factory in China ,It is glad
> to introduce ourselves to you:
>
> I am XUBIN (Jack) , XUBIN is my chinese name , you can just
> call me Jack !! , I am export manager of [deleted] ,
> China, our group have four factory
[snipped]
>
> Here is our company profile :
>

[Rest of sales talk snipped]

(And now, the reply)

Thank you for your coded order. The weapons and ammunition
will ship by way of the usual route in ten days, and you
already know our secret Swiss bank account number to
wire the payment to.

It is a pleasure doing business with you for so long,
and I hope your cause will prevail. I am new to this
particular computer, so I hope the encryption is
working and the monitoring authorities cannot read
what I am sending you.

Long live the Falun Gong! Free Tibet!

Best regards,
Your arms supplier

Speak for yourself

[mrroot]

From the FTC press release:

Chances are you will receive little or no money back on your "investment." Despite the claims, a chain letter will never make you rich.
Speak for yourself. I made over $46,000 dollars in 90 days, and you can too! and it's totally legal. To learn how, just mail me $5.00.

amazing

[negativethirsty]

Ok follow along, I'll go slowing for the gov't FTC workers... FTC: "you spammes are thieves and liers! Quit pulling these scams." spammer: "You are right, we are liers." FTC: "So does this mean you'll stop?" spammer: "Sure"

Deceptive Advertising...

[Chris Parrinello]

I think the FTC needs to crack down on these so called "Nude Teen Cheerleader" websites. If they're nude, how do you know they're really cheerleaders?

I am demanding that the FTC require (under penalty of large fines) that all nude teen cheerleaders be photographed with their high school ID showing their date of birth and their high school yearbook turned to the page where their cheerleading squad group picture is.

I think if the web site says "cheerleader" and then the model was actually in the pom-pom or flag squad, the fines should be TREBLE.

FTC Sends Out "Fake Spams"

[euphline]

Washington, DC-- In a move likely prompted by the SEC's recent creation of fake investment scam sites, the FTC began a campaign today to send out masses of electronic mail (known as "spam") to millions of unsuspecting internet users. Apparently, the messages, with subjects such as "Get Rich Quick", "Work From Home", and "Hi, Joe" have quickly filled user's mailboxes. When a user clicks on the link, they are taken to a web site that, upon further inspection, attempts to educate the user about the fake get rich schemes.

When a user clicks on the "unsubscribe" option, their email address is logged by the FTC. The FTC sends an autoreply indicating that using the "unsubscribe" option on spams is dangerous.

-jbn

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[switcha]

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Re:Increase Your Karma From Home!!!

[Anonymous Coward]

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