Posted by Virus Bulletin on Sep 19, 2006
Serial spammer charged with more spamming.
Software and security firm Infinite Monkeys & Company has announced that a lawsuit has been filed against 'Spam King' Scott Richter, head of 'online marketing company' OptInRealBig, along with numerous associate organisations, claiming $27 million in damages. They also hope to stop Richter from future spamming activities.
Richter has a long history of legal problems with his spamming businesses, including facing an action brought by meat company Hormel for his use of their trademarked name. He was bankrupted in the past after suits brought by Microsoft, who were awarded almost $19 million, and the New York Attorney General, who won $20 million. This latest case claims that Richter, his company, and other advertising firms linked with him violated a swathe of US and California state laws covering email and advertising.
'It's rather dispiriting to see these repeat spammers still in business,' said John Hawes, Technical Consultant at Virus Bulletin. 'It's clear that past actions have not done enough to put a stop to this man, let's hope that this latest case will be more effective.'
A press release from Infinite Monkeys & Co. can be found here. The text of the complaint is online in this PDF.
Over his long spamming career Scott Richter has been a regular feature in VB's news headlines. Read about some of his past activities here: