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Spammer's Porsche Up For Grabs

Posted by timothy on 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.'"

12 of 232 comments (clear)

  1. hmm by mandalayx · · 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 EricWright · · 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.

  2. Funny, but it makes an interesting point by Anonymous Coward · · 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 · · 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 · · 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.
  3. Wait... by ForestGrump · · 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.
  4. It should be disclosed to the public... by adzoox · · 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
  5. aol hates spam?! by hugzz · · Score: 5, Insightful

    when can i take the CEO of AOL's car for all those damn CDs they send me?

  6. Why the Porsche? by peterdaly · · 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
  7. wrong message by Cardinal+Biggles · · 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?

  8. The spammer's name won't be confidential... by dcavanaugh · · 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.

  9. mark my words by WormholeFiend · · 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.)