Spam gang slammed

ONE OF the world's worst spam gangs has been shut down by a Massachusetts court order for violation of the state's Consumer Protection Act and the Federal CAN-SPAM Act.

The gang, led by the Russian SpamTsar Leo Kukayev, was based in Boston, now faces charges of sending millions of unsolicited, deceptive emails advertising for counterfeit drugs, pirated software, and pornography.

Kukayev is listed in the Spamhaus register of the world's 200 worst spammers, was caught by a "spam trap" run by Microsoft which intercepted 45,000 messages within three weeks.

The group, which also includes Vladislav Khokholkov, Anna Orlova, Pavel Tkachuk, Michelle Marco, Dennis Nartikoev, Pavel Yashin, also operates in Monaco, Australia, and France.

Attorney general Tom Reilly, is likely to get a permanent injunction against the spammers and their companies, 2K Services and Ecash Pay.

Apparently investigators obtained registration information from website hosting companies, to find Kuvayev and others and link them to websites selling counterfeit prescription drugs, pirated software, mortgage loan offers, counterfeit Rolex watches, and pornography."

More here.