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Prosecuting Spamming Crackers?

Posted by Cliff on from the shutting-them-down dept.

lnixon asks: "As a recent Slashdot article mentioned, the latest trend in spamming is to use cracked Windows machines for sending spam and hosting spamvertised web sites, 'spacking', as Wired terms it. A couple of weeks ago, I started tracking one of these cracker rings down, carefully documenting the trail as I went.Mostly through luck, I actually found the originating server. This information should seriously put a crimp in their activities...if only I could get the law interested. I have tried to get the attention of CERT, of FBI and of my local police authorities, but nobody seems to be interested. Now, what should I do? Organize a posse?"

4 of 51 comments (clear)

  1. Alert the media by splattertrousers · · Score: 4, Insightful

    Give the information to your local newspapers and TV news programs. The spotlight might spur the authorities into action, and the reporters will love you because you saved them from doing any pesky work for themselves.

  2. Congresscritters by linuxwrangler · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Contact the congresscritters for your local district. They certainly know that any effort to fight spam will look good come re-election and they have the power to "make a couple calls".

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    "You are not remembered for doing what is expected of you." - Atul Chitnis
  3. Re:Here's how to get law enforcement's attention by mellon · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is a funny idea, but filing a false report of a crime is itself a crime. So you really don't want to play this game. However, I agree that using the term "spammer" is a bad idea - you can just call it "for the purposes of distributing fraudulent messages," or some other accurate statement that doesn't mention the word "spammer."

    However, getting law enforcement to take you seriously on something like this might be a real challenge anwyay - they don't know you from Jack, and so why should they trust you?

    I don't mean you're not trustworthy - I'm just pointing out that there's no trust relationship there, and you're putting yourself forth as an investigator, not a crime victim. It will be very hard for you to get them to think of you as legitimate.

  4. Put it on Paper by Detritus · · Score: 3, Insightful
    Write up a report, print it out and mail it to the appropriate agencies.

    Bureaucrats hate paper trails. It's very easy to blow off a phone call. A written report has to be handled more carefully.

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    Mea navis aericumbens anguillis abundat