Porn spammers nailed
2005-01-11 20:44
Washington - The US federal trade commission has shut down six companies it accused of sending X-rated e-mails in disguise and fraudulently charging recipients who joined sexually explicit websites in its first legal case involving pornographic internet spam.
A federal judge on January 5 granted the agency's request for a restraining order against the companies and their executives for allegedly violating federal laws governing commercial electronic mail - commonly known as spam.
Among the laws allegedly violated was the Controlling the Assault of Non-Solicited Pornography and Marketing Act of 2003.
Dubbed "Can Spam," the law requires unsolicited commercial e-mail that contains sexually oriented material to include the words "SEXUALLY EXPLICIT" in the subject line.
Spammers who violate the rule face possible imprisonment and criminal fines of up to $250 000 for individuals and $500 000 for an organization.
Tracking down violators can be difficult because spammers often try to escape being directly identified by using forged return addresses or by bouncing their e-mails through unprotected relay computers on the internet.
- AP