[58467] in North American Network Operators' Group
Re: identity theft != spam
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Chris Horry)
Thu May 15 13:35:50 2003
Date: Thu, 15 May 2003 13:32:22 -0400 (EDT)
From: Chris Horry <zerbey@wibble.co.uk>
To: Randy Bush <randy@psg.com>
Cc: nanog@nanog.org
In-Reply-To: <E19GMJA-0001Em-90@roam.psg.com>
Errors-To: owner-nanog-outgoing@merit.edu
On Thu, 15 May 2003, Randy Bush wrote:
>
> what is wrong with this picture?
>
> From: "NewsScan" <newsscan@newsscan.com>
>
> NewsScan Daily, 15 May 2003 ("Above The Fold")
> ***********************************************************
> NewsScan Daily is underwritten by RLG, a world-class organization
> making significant and sustained contributions to the effective
> management and appropriate use of information technology. NSD is
> written by John Gehl and Suzanne Douglas, editors@NewsScan.com.
> ***********************************************************
>
> 'BUFFALO SPAMMER' COULD GET UP TO SEVEN YEARS
> Howard Carmack, the so-called "Buffalo Spammer," has become the
> first person in New York state to be charged under the state's
> identity theft laws. If convicted, he could be sentenced to
> 2-1/2 to 7 years in prison for identity theft, forgery,
> criminal possession of forgery devices (in the form of software
> used to create phony return addresses), and falsifying business
> records. According to the indictment, Carmack "stole the
> identities of innocent New Yorkers to spam millions of
> consumers throughout New York and the nation." He is charged
> with using 343 stolen identities to send his unsolicited bulk
> mailings through Earthlink accounts. An Earthlink executive
> said the main impact of the arrest would be to demonstrate to
> others the "very high cost of doing business" in spam. (New
> York Newsday 14 May 2003)
> http://www.nynewsday.com/business/ny-biz-spammer0514,0,2414486.story?coll=nyc-business-short-navigation
>
> this exemplifies the corporate and legislative attempt to confuse
> spam == uce with forgery. if they can make the latter the issue,
> this leaves the way completely clear for unsolicited commercial
> email from the corporate sector which now fills our post boxes with
> ground trees.
At least it is a step in the right direction. If this person is convicted
it's one less spammer to worry about (even though that's like saying it's
one less ant to worry about). I would really love to see some solid
legislation on convicting spammers but the way congress is, it could take
years :-(
Maybe, JUST maybe this case will deter other spammers - but I doubt it!
Chris
--
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