Pay MySpace $230M, Spam King ordered
p2pnet news | Security:- So-called Spam King Sanford Wallace, the subject of the Federal Trade Commission’s first spyware case and who was ultimately ordered to remove from any web site, bulletin board, or Internet server he or his companies controlled, “any software script that exploits web browser security vulnerabilities,” has been ordered to pay MySpace a record $230 million in damages.
US District Judge Audrey Collins made the order after Wallace and his partner, Walter Rines, failed to show up in court.
MySpace chief security officer Hemanshu Nigam told the Associated Press Wallace and Rines created their own MySpace accounts or took over existing ones by stealing passwords through “phishing” scams, it says, going on:
“They then e-mailed other MySpace members, he said, ‘asking them to check out a cool video or another cool site. When you (got) there, they were making money trying to sell you something or making money based on hits or trying to sell ring tones.’
“MySpace said the pair sent more than 730,000 messages to MySpace members, many made to look like they were coming from trusted friends, giving them an air of legitimacy.”
Under the 2003 federal CAN-SPAM law, each violation entitles MySpace to $100 in damages, tripled when conducted “willfully and knowingly,” says AP, adding:
“Collins awarded the amounts sought by MySpace: $157.4 million jointly against Rines and Wallace and an additional $63.4 million against Rines under CAN-SPAM — plus $1.5 million more against the pair under California’s anti-phishing law and $4.7 million in attorneys fees. MySpace said it was entitled to another $3 million from Rines and Wallace under a different section of CAN-SPAM.
“Collins also issued injunctions barring similar activities in the future.”
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.Stumble It!
first spyware case – FTC’s first spyware case, October 11, 2004
Associated Press – MySpace wins $230 million anti-spam judgment, May 14, 2008
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May 14th, 2008 at 6:20 am
I am so glad to hear this….spammers are the scourge of the net….
May 14th, 2008 at 9:22 am
Well don’t make a fuss dear; I’ll have your spam, I love it! I’m a big spam-spam-spam-spam-aholic!
May 14th, 2008 at 11:45 am
hey, spam is good after two weeks of eating fish in north Alaska.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:08 pm
Sounds good but he’ll get away with it, and likely start up a different scam. That’s why there’s so much of it goes on because there’s no real penalties. No jail time and he’ll just declare bankruptcy and hide his money. Damage done and will continue, besides encouraging others.
May 14th, 2008 at 6:12 pm
As I see it there are at least 3 main scourges of the Internet. Spammers/scammers, RIAA/MPAA, and hatemongers who spread malicious and harmful slander/propaganda
May 14th, 2008 at 7:04 pm
Complete waste of time. He won’t pay. Even if he has money, he’ll just pull an OJ. He’s free and there’s nothing to prevent hime from starting up more scams.