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Thread ID: 105497 2009-12-04 07:31:00 How sad - Never mind wainuitech (129) PC World Chat
Post ID Timestamp Content User
836401 2009-12-04 07:31:00 What a bugger - my heart bleeds :crying Story - oh dear (www.zdnet.com.au fea_l1&omnRef=1337) -- you may have to wait through their ad first--SO :

US fines NZ spammer US$15.15m
By Colin Ho, ZDNet.com.au
01 December 2009 04:46 PM
Tags: spam, atkinson, queensland, ftc, smith

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) yesterday ordered Australian resident Lance Atkinson to pay over US$15.15 million for his role as the leader of what has been called the largest "spam gang" in the world.

Atkinson, aged 26, is a New Zealand citizen currently living in Queensland, according to the FTC. The commission said that he admitted his involvement in the spam network last December. US-based accomplice, Jody Smith, has also agreed to an order to turn over nearly all of his assets to the commission. He forfeits over $800,000 and will also be facing jail time.

The global spam network, under the alias of "Canadian Healthcare", used a team of globally recruited spammers to send billions of email messages deceptively marketing a male-enhancement pill, prescription drugs and a weight-loss pill. The spammers directed consumers to websites operated by an affiliate program called "Affking", falsely claiming that the medications came from a US-licensed pharmacy that dispensed FDA-approved drugs. In fact, the drugs were shipped from India, and were potentially unsafe. A US district court ordered an asset freeze and halt to his spam network's operation last year.

The spammers collected consumers' credit card information and personal data, using false privacy and security assurances to mislead recipients. To date, three million complaints have been lodged against the spammers and Atkinson's Australian-registered company, Inet Ventures Pty Ltd.

Spamhaus, a not-for-profit anti-spam organisation, has identified Atkinson's operations as the largest "spam gang" in the world.
wainuitech (129)
836402 2009-12-04 08:06:00 Why bother with fines that big? He will NEVER pay that off. xyz823 (13649)
836403 2009-12-04 19:36:00 You think? They make a lot of money....... pctek (84)
836404 2009-12-04 19:37:00 You think? They make a lot of money.......

15m is ALOT though.
xyz823 (13649)
836405 2009-12-05 05:58:00 15m is ALOT though.

You know a lot when you see one.
Cicero (40)
836406 2009-12-05 07:22:00 They should have given him a prison sentence. convair (13650)
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