Spammer's Porsche Up For Grabs

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Spammer's Porsche Up For Grabs

Posted by timothy on Tuesday March 30, 2004 @01:12AM from the please-go-with-the-house-ideas dept.

gaurab writes "Anti-Spammers would love this. In this news piece, the BBC reports that AOL is putting up a Porsche it seized from a spammer last year in a sweepstakes. What next -- 'Spammer's House' in another sweepstakes? Is this the sign of things to come? From the story: 'Internet giant AOL has ratcheted up the war against unsolicited e-mail with a publicity-grabbing coup -- an online raffle of a spammer's seized Porsche. AOL won the car -- a $47,000 Boxster S -- as part of a court settlement against an unnamed e-mailer last year.'"

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hmm by mandalayx · 2004-03-30 01:14 · Score: 4, Insightful

AOL won the car - a $47,000 Boxster S - as part of a court settlement against an unnamed e-mailer last year.

"We'll take cars, houses, boats - whatever we can find and get a hold of," said AOL's Randall Boe.

According to Mr Boe, the Porsche's previous owner made more than $1m by sending junk e-mail.

Nice car, but....you're telling me the spammer made $1mm+ and all AOL got was a $47k Porsche?

Well, I suppose the publicity might work, like how the RIAA got many people to think that copyright violations = stealing.
1. Re:hmm by mandalayx · 2004-03-30 01:20 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  Who cares, I'm already planning my customized license plate for it: INBOXSTR
  
  It just works on so many levels.
  
  cute, but sadly 8 characters--won't fit on most US license plates.
  
  Perhaps INBOXSR. Not as cool, but 7.
  
  Hey, I smell a good product name for a spam killer. Inboxster. Like Aimster, except the slutty girl goes to the spam file. not a single google result, either.
2. Re:hmm by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-30 01:27 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  "you're telling me the spammer made $1mm+ and all AOL got was a $47k Porsche?"
  No. That's why the article refers to the Porsche as part of the settlement. That implies that AOL received more than just the Porsche from the spammer.
3. Re:hmm by EricWright · 2004-03-30 01:27 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  As you quoted... "AOL won the car... as PART of a court settlement..." That phrasing makes me believe that this is not "all AOL got"! If they also obtained cash, a) do you think they're going to tell you how much, and b) do you think there would be a public raffle of money? They're just trying to liquidate the spammer's former assets. The cash is already liquid.
Funny, but it makes an interesting point by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-30 01:16 · Score: 4, Insightful

This spammer can afford a Porsche (and probably its replacement). How many OSS people can say the same? This is an interesting commentary on the economic value of the two groups to society.
1. Re:Funny, but it makes an interesting point by Elgon · 2004-03-30 01:20 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  The Labour Theory of Value has been shown to be largely a pile of crap: Something is worth what people will pay, not what is _should_ be worth according to subjective beliefs.
  
  I do agree though that this leads to some wierd (and undeserved) results.
  
  Elgon
2. Re:Funny, but it makes an interesting point by Lumpy · 2004-03-30 01:29 · Score: 4, Insightful
  
  low morals and scruples has ALWAYS been more profitable than doing the right and good thing.
  
  low life scum always have more stuff. Look at the ex -executive branch of Enron, the CEO of SCO, Hitler, Stalin, Amelia Marcos, the list goes on.
  
  Why do you think the Mafia are in business? because Crime is profitable... so the more scummy you are the more money you get.
  
  until there is backlash.
  
  --
  Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
Wait... by ForestGrump · 2004-03-30 01:20 · Score: 5, Insightful

Aol goes after other spammers, but doesn't AOL spam its own customers?

I remember using AOL in years past and they would throw crap at you telling you to BUY THIS and THIS every time you logged into an AOL account.

-Grump

--
Is it true that more people vote for the winner of American Idol, than vote for the president? -Ali G.
It should be disclosed to the public... by adzoox · 2004-03-30 01:21 · Score: 4, Insightful

I think these high living SPAM execs salaries should be as well known as say Apple Computer's compensation for Steve Jobs. You can almost gaurantee that these people don't report their full income on taxes or "do creative accounting" like - every penis enlargement pill that DOESN'T sell from an email solicitation - is actually a loss - justifying it by saying the record industry says that every download = a lost sale.
I would like to see the people that waste our time get what's due to them - spending every hour of my wasted time in court and in jail!

--
Yell & scream & rant & rave... it's no use... you need a shaaaave ~ Bugs Bunny
aol hates spam?! by hugzz · 2004-03-30 01:22 · Score: 5, Insightful

when can i take the CEO of AOL's car for all those damn CDs they send me?
1. Re:aol hates spam?! by MMaestro · 2004-03-30 01:25 · Score: 2, Insightful
  
  when can i take the CEO of AOL's car for all those damn CDs they send me?
  When AOL doesn't have to pay millions of dollars in manufacturing, packaging, and postage most of which never pays off.
Why the Porsche? by peterdaly · 2004-03-30 01:32 · Score: 5, Insightful

My initial thought was since when can a private company seize private property? It seems they got it as part of a deal with the government...but that being said, why a $40k Porsche? It's said this guy made over $1M.

Mr Boe said the Porsche was seized mainly for its symbolic value, as the obvious fruit of an illegal trade.

Makes sense, and it's a great idea. Getting hundreds of thousands of dollars does not make an attention getting headline, and not have made slashdot. Taking his Porsche, now that's a headline grabber.

AOL is known for being marketing savy, and that's what this is about.

-Pete

--
Soccer Goal Plans
wrong message by Cardinal+Biggles · 2004-03-30 01:33 · Score: 5, Insightful

So what AOL is telling people is... Spammers have Porsches! Spamming => money!

My next question as a newbie would be: so how do I become a spammer? Where do I apply & when can I start?
The spammer's name won't be confidential... by dcavanaugh · 2004-03-30 01:47 · Score: 4, Insightful

If the winner chooses to disclose the VIN number. Armed with that, I'm sure some "researchers" can get the ownership history.
Meh by Greyfox · 2004-03-30 02:05 · Score: 2, Insightful

The car is nice and all but what I'd really like is a spammer's organs. Mine work fine but you can never have too many organs. So AOL, next time you go after a spammer, go for the organs.

--
I'm trying to teach myself to set people on fire with my mind... Is it hot in here?
Re:Does it come with a CD Multiplayer? by oateater · 2004-03-30 02:05 · Score: 2, Insightful

AOL spams snail mail; Spammers spam email; AOL wins. Hmmmm....
Re:Can't just join? by Anonymous Coward · 2004-03-30 02:09 · Score: 2, Insightful

There is no purchase required. That is the point. You already had to be a member to be eligible. If they used it as a way to get people to sign up then you would be right.

There is no law that says a organization can't hold sweepstakes for its own members.
Re:Screw the Car... by Rand+Race · 2004-03-30 02:43 · Score: 2, Insightful

It'll be a small sack. If the dude had big balls he would have gotten a Corvette for his $47k instead of an overpriced, underpowered secretary sportscar version of a real Porsche.

/flamebait

--
Insanity is the last line of defence for the master diplomat. But you have to lay the groundwork early.
mark my words by WormholeFiend · 2004-03-30 03:03 · Score: 4, Insightful

Slashdotters are laughing now, but just wait until the RIAA/MPAA take a cue from AOL and start liquidating pirates assets...

(Well, at least, if more actors are caught "lending" their preview copies of movies, we could end up with some pretty nice lottery items.)
Okay. by mindstrm · 2004-03-30 03:46 · Score: 2, Insightful

Good idea.

Except Apple Inc. is publicly traded, and has to disclose such things by law. A private company does not.

So.. where then do we draw the line between spammers and every other privately run business out there? Require complete financial transparency for everyone? Your salary at the quickie-mart? Your full income as a private consultant?

etc.
Spammer's House by OrangeCarrot · 2004-03-30 04:21 · Score: 3, Insightful

What next -- 'Spammer's House' in another sweepstakes?.

Most spammers hide in Florida. Why Florida? Because in Florida you cannot take someone's house like you can take thier Porche or pet monkey or whatever. So, don't expect to see a house on the block.
Re:Does it come with a CD Multiplayer? by ryanwright · 2004-03-31 06:48 · Score: 2, Insightful

You pay. Snail mail is subsidized by the government. Heavily.

Source?

The USPS is not federally funded; it has a federally granted monopoly, yes, but it operates from it's own revenues. Taxpayer dollars are not handed over to the USPS. So no, snail mail doesn't cost me a thing unless I'm the one mailing it.

--
-Ryan, with the unoriginal sig