"What Happens
To The Spammer?"
By Richard Lowe
Sometimes it's difficult to understand why spamming
is considered one of the most vile sins on the internet. After
all, what harm does an extra email or two cause? And even if the
spammer is reported or caught, who cares? I mean, what happens
to a spammer anyway?
We've all heard people say, "well, why not
just hit the delete key?" I used to take the time to try
and explain the problem to these people, but I've since realized
that there is a brand of ignorance which cannot be penetrated
by reason or logic. Now I just nod and smile, and change the subject.
Spam would not be so bad if it was just one or
two emails now and then. Unfortunately, it's not just one person
sending an unsolicited advertisement once a month - it's hundreds
or even thousands. And the emails are virtually always regarding
some scam, a useless product or, very often, some pornographic
or money making scheme. I've received tens of thousands of spam
emails over the years, and not once has any of them ever been
of value.
I don't understand why spammers don't get the
message that their emails are unwanted. Why do they keep sending
out their useless advertisements? Do people actually purchase
anything from them? Do these people really make money?
Okay, so what happens to spammers anyway?
Your amateur spammer must feel very much like
a criminal does. You see, they must hide their identities in any
number of devious ways to prevent their ISP and web hosts from
shutting them down. New laws are being passed which make these
people into real criminals, making it even more important that
they remain hidden.
- When an ISP or web host begins receiving dozens of spam
reports on someone using their services, they will typically
cancel first and ask questions later. Thus, your average spammer
is constantly losing his hosting services and always searching
for another ISP. He has to - he keeps getting kicked out when
his misdeeds is discovered.
- Spammers, if they can be identified, can be sued. This is
fairly rare, as it is difficult to prove actual damage, but
you can sue them and win. And if you are an ISP or host, you
can definitely get them to dig into their pockets for the
resources they wasted.
- If a spammer annoys the wrong person, he could find himself
harassed. For example, people have been known to send back
email bombs, perform denial of service attacks or simply get
phone lines canceled.
- If a spammer gets his domain added to any of the various
"black holes", then he may find that he cannot send
email at all.
- Depending upon how vile the material, the law can come down
upon a spammer. This is especially true with scams and pornography
of the most degraded kind.
- Most spammers do not realize there is always a way to find
out where the email came from. It does not matter how well
they attempt to cover their tracks - they do need to make
it possible to order something and thus they can be tracked
- even if it means physically visiting their business with
a search warrant.
I hope that helps clarify what happens to the
spammer in the short or long run. Spam does cause damage, and
spammers, especially the largest and worst offenders, should be
prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.
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