“Zombie Spammer” Arrested – Charged with 35 Counts of Law-Breaking

One of the world’s top 10 email spammers was just arrested – Robert Alan Soloway, 27, is accused of using networks of compromised “zombie” computers to send out millions upon millions of spam e-mails. (story and quotes via Miami Herald)

A federal grand jury returned a 35-count indictment against Soloway charging him with mail fraud, wire fraud, e-mail fraud, aggravated identity theft and money laundering.

Holy hot damn!

Prosecutors say Soloway used computers infected with malicious code to send out millions of junk e-mails since 2003. The computers are called “zombies” because owners typically have no idea their machines have been infected.

He continued his activities even after Microsoft won a $7 million civil judgment against him in 2005 and the operator of a small Internet service provider in Oklahoma won a $10 million judgment, prosecutors said.

U.S. Attorney Jeff Sullivan said Wednesday that the case is the first in the country in which federal prosecutors have used identity theft statutes to prosecute a spammer for taking over someone else’s Internet domain name. Soloway could face decades in prison, though prosecutors said they have not calculated what guideline sentencing range he might face.

The investigation began when the authorities began receiving hundreds of complaints about Soloway, who had been featured on a list of known spammers kept by The Spamhaus Project, an international anti-spam organization.

And this… this is the part that really frosts my you-know-what:

Soloway used the networks of compromised computers to send out unsolicited bulk e-mails urging people to use his Internet marketing company to advertise their products, authorities said.

People who clicked on a link in the e-mail were directed to his Web site. There, Soloway advertised his ability to send out as many as 20 million e-mail advertisements over 15 days for $495, the indictment said.

After having worked with so many clients who have fallen for stuff like this, or variations of it, it just makes me crazy because people can’t help but think that all “Internet marketing companies” practice this kind of behavior! Never, ever have I worked for or participated in email spam, nor have I (or any company I’ve worked for) offered to spam people for some ridiculously “low” price. Same goes for directory submissions, links, or anything else related to online marketing.

I feel like people like him are pushing miracle pills that just don’t work. It makes me so mad, and now that he’s been caught and arrested – I’m thrilled.