Meet Average-Joe spammer

Iria · Dec 1, 2005, 03:57 AM

It’s tough being an average-Joe spammer these days. Divorced and in his 40s, Mike has two kids to help support, a skyrocketing home heating bill, and a mortgage. And spamming just isn’t paying the bills like it used to.

In the heyday of his spamming career, from 1997 to 2000, profiting from sending out unsolicited bulk email was easy, Mike says. In an average month he made US$40,000 (NZ$57,828) pelting millions of inboxes with spam. Now, he complains, spam filters have become too effective and block most of his email. Also, he adds, spamming for a living has become increasingly risky, as evidenced by recent arrests of spammers and fines imposed on them. He himself is currently being sued by a large ISP for using illegal methods for sending spam, he says.

“Spamming becomes a little more unprofitable and a little more high-risk every day,” says Mike, who agreed to be interviewed on condition his real name be withheld. “I don’t know why I still do it.”

In fact, spam is no longer Mike’s sole, or even principal, source of income. He now works in construction and devotes only 20 hours a week at night to spam.
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Read More / Source: Computerworld NZ

BWX · Dec 1, 2005, 10:04 AM

What a scumbag.

EcPercy · Dec 1, 2005, 10:20 AM

Ok, so let's see here. He said the peak of his career was 1997-2000. That's 36 months @ 40,000 a month.

36*40,000=1,440,000

Ok, why would he not have just invested 20,000 a month in some good companies and turned his million into millions?

How much is he making now? I bet it's still a good bit.

What does this guy want? I don't feel sorry for him that's for sure. How about this... you have a list of infected computers. Why not find out where those machines are and make money helping the owners with securing them??????

Last, if you are a spammer, why in the world would you talk to the press?? Now you will be sure to be a target of more lawsuits.

Personally, I can't wait until more anti-spam laws are passed and more of these people are sent away. Maybe then spamming will slow to a crawl. I just hope that other countries jump onboard the anti-spam wagon. That way, no matter where you try to go, you will still get in trouble.

BWX · Dec 1, 2005, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EcPercy

Ok, so let's see here. He said the peak of his career was 1997-2000. That's 36 months @ 40,000 a month.

36*40,000=1,440,000

Ok, why would he not have just invested 20,000 a month in some good companies and turned his million into millions?

.

He is probably a pathological liar as well.. people like that have no credibility.
Just your average dirt bag.

Dec 1, 2005, 03:57 AM	#1
Iria DriverHeaven Extreme Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 7,275 Rep Power: 89	Meet Average-Joe spammer It’s tough being an average-Joe spammer these days. Divorced and in his 40s, Mike has two kids to help support, a skyrocketing home heating bill, and a mortgage. And spamming just isn’t paying the bills like it used to. In the heyday of his spamming career, from 1997 to 2000, profiting from sending out unsolicited bulk email was easy, Mike says. In an average month he made US$40,000 (NZ$57,828) pelting millions of inboxes with spam. Now, he complains, spam filters have become too effective and block most of his email. Also, he adds, spamming for a living has become increasingly risky, as evidenced by recent arrests of spammers and fines imposed on them. He himself is currently being sued by a large ISP for using illegal methods for sending spam, he says. “Spamming becomes a little more unprofitable and a little more high-risk every day,” says Mike, who agreed to be interviewed on condition his real name be withheld. “I don’t know why I still do it.” In fact, spam is no longer Mike’s sole, or even principal, source of income. He now works in construction and devotes only 20 hours a week at night to spam. ____________ Read More / Source: Computerworld NZ

Dec 1, 2005, 10:04 AM	#2
BWX unplugged Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: USNY Posts: 19,669 Rep Power: 110 System Specs	What a scumbag. __________________

Dec 1, 2005, 10:20 AM	#3
EcPercy HardwareHeaven Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Iraq Posts: 1,535 Rep Power: 0	Ok, so let's see here. He said the peak of his career was 1997-2000. That's 36 months @ 40,000 a month. 36*40,000=1,440,000 Ok, why would he not have just invested 20,000 a month in some good companies and turned his million into millions? How much is he making now? I bet it's still a good bit. What does this guy want? I don't feel sorry for him that's for sure. How about this... you have a list of infected computers. Why not find out where those machines are and make money helping the owners with securing them?????? Last, if you are a spammer, why in the world would you talk to the press?? Now you will be sure to be a target of more lawsuits. Personally, I can't wait until more anti-spam laws are passed and more of these people are sent away. Maybe then spamming will slow to a crawl. I just hope that other countries jump onboard the anti-spam wagon. That way, no matter where you try to go, you will still get in trouble.