Feds crack down on pornographic e-mails

[Barron]

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/8644746/

[Cleo]

|shocking| |shocking| |shocking| |shocking|
|skyfall|




ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzz…

[Surfn]

It isn't really of much interest to me because I don't spam.

I did find the list of businesses that settled quite interesting.

[Lemmy]

Now if they would only go after the mortgage lenders, the online pharmacies and the fake Rolex peddlers next I'd be happy.

[Useless]

I wouldn't mind having a fake Rolex.

I'm glad to see them bust adult spammers. Most of them don't spam legit sites. It's all scary, scary stuff that those fuckers tend to spam.

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by Lemmy

Now if they would only go after the mortgage lenders, the online pharmacies and the fake Rolex peddlers next I'd be happy.

Not to mention the Christian Debt Consolidation crap...

[Cleo]

I see a bunch of Florida companies in there. I'm guessing this is because the feds enjoy bringing along the family and working here.

[SirMoby]

I wonder if they're putting forth the same effort to the phishing scams where people are loosing a bunch of money.

Last time I checked I got about 800 spam a day. Since I pay to have Internet access and I pay for these emails accounts I would really like them ALL to stop sending me emails.

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by SirMoby

I wonder if they're putting forth the same effort to the phishing scams where people are loosing a bunch of money.

Last time I checked I got about 800 spam a day. Since I pay to have Internet access and I pay for these emails accounts I would really like them ALL to stop sending me emails.

I've only had luck with PayPal they have an email addy spoof@paypal.com that will tell if it's real or not, not that I need to know, but it severely slowed down the paypal phishers. Now if I could get some of the banks I don't have accounts with to start cleaning up their mess...

[babymaker]

no slow down on porn spam here they are harvesting me like a mutherfucker! i am sick of it! plus the same cocksuckers thats send me cP spam in the next email send the christian BS WTF ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgggg! i am going nutz lol

[Shannon G]

Originally Posted by Useless Warrior

I wouldn't mind having a fake Rolex.

I'm glad to see them bust adult spammers. Most of them don't spam legit sites. It's all scary, scary stuff that those fuckers tend to spam.

We actually bought one of those fake Rolex's for my mother-in-law!! hahaha First time I ever purchased anything off bulk email... nice watch tho! lol

As for the lawsuit, it's not just a matter of busting spammers... it's a great example that sponsor programs need to seriously understand that they are liable for the actions of their affiliates. The "I didn't know what they were doing 'cas I'm just a program owner and can't be responsible for a thousand people" excuse totally does not fly!

Our attorney gave a can-spam compliance and sponsor program responsibility seminar at a mainstream expo last month and one of the things stressed was that programs definitely ARE responsible for the actions of their affiliates. And, with confirmed precedendts on the books, it'll be damn tough for anyone to fight the charges if the proof presented by the FTC is indeed accurate.

We spend so much time analyzing affiliate actions to protect ourselves from fraud that analyzing webmaster mailings for compliance accuracy really isn't that much of a "workload" addition when it comes to saving your backside!

[Verbal]

Another article: http://www.cnn.com/2005/TECH/interne....ap/index.html

This is not really just about spam... the Feds are actually fining these Sponsors who's Affiliates sent out emails promoting their paysites... possibly without the Sponsor's knowledge... which is scary if you run an affiliate program. I want to know why if an affiliate is spamming or sending emails that don't follow "Can Spam", why is the Sponsor being sued for this?


I suppose then, that this probably means the end of affiliate email promotion at most Sponsors, now that they can be sued directly.

[Verbal]

From the CNN article, bold added by me:

Federal regulators accused seven companies Wednesday of hiring others to send illegal e-mails with pornographic messages to tempt consumers to visit adult Internet sites.
...
The FTC said the seven companies did not send e-mails directly to consumers but operated affiliate programs, paying others to send unwanted messages to drive Internet traffic to adult Web sites. The FTC said under the "Can Spam" law, defendants in such cases are liable because they paid others to send e-mails on their behalf.
...
The lawsuits seek unspecified payment to the government for "every violation" of the federal anti-spam law.

They make it sound like these Sponsors outsourced a major spam campaign, but I suspect they are being heavily penalized for just a few spamming affiliates.

[Toby]

Originally Posted by Verbal

They make it sound like these Sponsors outsourced a major spam campaign, but I suspect they are being heavily penalized for just a few spamming affiliates.

Based on the strong no email promotion policies implemented by a number of sponsors over the last few months I think you're correct. Although a small number of affiliates that really know what they're doing can generate a ton of email spam.

[Wazza]

http://www.avn.com/index.php?Primary...tent_ID=233914

Pure Marketing Solutions = Pure Cash (defunct)

No idea who Internet Matrix Technology is

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by Wazza

http://www.avn.com/index.php?Primary...tent_ID=233914

Pure Marketing Solutions = Pure Cash (defunct)

No idea who Internet Matrix Technology is

I believe Matrix was Bling Cash.

[Erick G]

I been getting a ton of spam
and I report it to sponsors I find, but alot seem to be private paysites.
from foreign countries so far the only reply ive gotten from a sponsor was peter hegre
he took action within 5 minutes. the rest dont seem to give a shit.

[Wazza]

http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2005/07/alrsweep.htm

The Pure Cash and Internet Matrix Technology action is the same - IMT was the spamming webmaster

The Bang Bros action includes Nasty Dollars and Ox Cash

[LindaMight]

So I have quite a few Affiliates that come into the program with an agreed upon 50-50 split VIA a link on their website and my rules clearly state NO SPAM and now they state...no images.

How do I know if any of the affiliates are spamming to get membership? I have a rule if we find out they are sending spam for membership to our site, they are dropped immediately. But what if I don't know they are doing it? And how the heck would I know unless I, myself, got one of their emails?

This is all way too confusing. Maybe not even worth having affiliate programs anymore for me.

Linda

[quest]

It truely sucks when someone can be in violation of a law from someone elses actions.

I was gald to hear that 3 company's decided to fight it.

Did anyone notice that they are charging them with "Adult Labeling Rule" too?

I would of thought for sure Topbucks and the others were FSC members.

Anyway, good luck in court to the 3 company's that stood tall.

I also wonder if Sponser Programs will start weeding out webmasters from places that dont have a care to U.S. laws.


Ben

[Useless]

Originally Posted by LindaMight

So I have quite a few Affiliates that come into the program with an agreed upon 50-50 split VIA a link on their website and my rules clearly state NO SPAM and now they state...no images.

How do I know if any of the affiliates are spamming to get membership? I have a rule if we find out they are sending spam for membership to our site, they are dropped immediately. But what if I don't know they are doing it? And how the heck would I know unless I, myself, got one of their emails?

This is all way too confusing. Maybe not even worth having affiliate programs anymore for me.

Linda

Update your terms so that affiliates agree to indemnify you if you suffer financial losses resulting from them violating your terms. You will still be dragged in to court, but at least you'll be able to seek recourse against the guilty party if it does happen. Of course, if you choose to update your terms, send out an affiliate newsletter informing them of the changes and say something like "...continuing to promote mysite.com expresses your understanding of, and agreement to, the new terms. If you do not agree to the updated terms, you must hereby discontinue promoting mysite.com." I think one of the reasons that some programs choose not to except affiliates from some countries is the difficulty involved in pursuing legal action against them in these situations.

[babymaker]

hehe i just forwarded the christian mortgage email to the addy given in the article spam@uce.gov also an other unsolicited email for a fucking bible and a harvested porn email.

[Robbo]

Oh I`ve seen a sponsor or so in spammer forums recruiting affiliates in the past. That could work as evidence.

The thing though is I don`t think the viability of a member garnered through spam would be as valuable as that from other methods. But of course the volume of sales could offset it. And depending on what you are promoting.

Speaking of which I need to go order some more viagra to celebrate the awesome mortgage I got for the mansion I`m buying with the money I`ll be getting from a joint venture with some nigerian guy I met through email!

|gabbo|

[Surfn]

Originally Posted by LindaMight

So I have quite a few Affiliates that come into the program with an agreed upon 50-50 split VIA a link on their website and my rules clearly state NO SPAM and now they state...no images.

How do I know if any of the affiliates are spamming to get membership? I have a rule if we find out they are sending spam for membership to our site, they are dropped immediately. But what if I don't know they are doing it? And how the heck would I know unless I, myself, got one of their emails?

This is all way too confusing. Maybe not even worth having affiliate programs anymore for me.

Linda

Take a deep breath and keep telling yourself "It's only a movie...it's only a movie"

Seriously though this is going no where in court so don't sweat that part. If I were you I would consult an attorney and get some kick ass new language in your affiliate acceptance policy for peace of mind in the future

[LindaMight]

Originally Posted by Surfn

Take a deep breath and keep telling yourself "It's only a movie...it's only a movie"

Seriously though this is going no where in court so don't sweat that part. If I were you I would consult an attorney and get some kick ass new language in your affiliate acceptance policy for peace of mind in the future

Yes....I agree. Once again, back to the corporate attorney to get some wording in "legaleeze". Thanks for the input!

Linda