US Authorities Net “Top Spammer”

US authorities arrested a 27-year-old Seattle man, describing him as one of the world’s top 10 spammers, and charged him with 35 counts including mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering. Robert Soloway’s arrest marks the first time that officials have used identity-theft laws to prosecute a person for taking over another person’s internet domain name. “Prosecutors allege Mr. Soloway used networks of ‘zombie’ computers – so-called because their owners have no idea they have been infected with malicious code – to send out millions of junk emails from 2003,” reports The Guardian. His website claimed that he could send out more than 1 million e-mails per day, accounting for a daily bombardment of advertising for penis enlargers, prescription medications, internet degrees and other odd services. The arrest reveals new determination on the part of law-enforcement agencies to crack down on internet crime. – YaleGlobal