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FTC Settles With Texas Based Spammer

Posted by timothy on from the texas-justice-watered-down dept.

fermion writes "The FTC has settled with the Austin, Texas-based company, ClickForMail.Com, Inc, on a charge of deceptive trade practices. The FTC charges that ClickForMail promised a preapproved credit card through AllPreApproved.com but failed to deliver the product. We all have heard that such spam and schemes can be very profitable, but do we ever believe a large number of people will fall for it? In this case, thousands took the bait. The victims allowed AllPreApproved.com to deduct $49.95 from their bank accounts. In return the victims received not a credit card, but a list of hyperlinks which could be used to get credit cards." (Read on for more.) "As is usual, the settlement does not assign blame. The FTC made ClickForMail pay $815,000 and promise not to lie about its services in the future. Apparently ClickForMail is not prohibited from sending out future UCE. This investigation is part of an FTC task force which is filing actions against 45 companies. One of the scams is an update of the eternal scholarship con.

If anyone gets spam from Texas, or if you live in Texas, make sure to use the new Texas Spam Law. Individuals can sue for $10 per UCE, up to $25,000 a day."

2 of 18 comments (clear)

  1. Another light settlement by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Interesting

    They can't lie again? It wasn't legal before. Why is that even in the settlement? Did they return the money to those they defrauded? What's the FTC trying to accomplish here? Is this too many questions in a row?

  2. He faces a $ 3.6 million fine! by spineboy · · Score: 3, Interesting

    This is IF the jury finds him guilty as accused. I imagine the defense lawyer will want a jury who has never touched a computer, so that he doesnt wind up with 12 spam angered jurors, who throw the book at his client.

    How about as a suggestion for posting guidelines. Most of the initial replies I have seen so far on this article indicated that they didn't read the article. Can you make a link counter, or cookie system that automatically mods down the posters score by 1 point if they haven't read at least one of the links? I know there could be problems with this, but it'll help reduce the chaff, and improve the S/N ratio. Just a thought

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