Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

FBI Raids Home of Spam King Alan Ralsky

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the click-here-to-enlarge-your-prison-cell dept.

wstearns writes "The Detroit News is reporting that the FBI has raided Alan Ralsky's home. In the raid, the FBI took computers and financial records, effectively shutting him down. Mr. Ralsky has been frequently covered here."

11 of 422 comments (clear)

  1. Will I be notified by dzafez · · Score: 5, Funny

    Will I be notified, if they find out I'm a victim??

    Hell the guy from nigeria didn't write me for a while, I'll send him an E-Mail. I'm still waiting for a large transaction :-)

  2. In Other News... by thesnarky1 · · Score: 5, Funny

    I am heir to the FBI throne which was recently desposed. FOr only $2000 down, you can secure your right to this massive wealth as well.

    --
    Want to find other gamers to play board and role playing game
  3. What about his crown? by Datagod · · Score: 5, Funny

    Did they get his Spam Crown and Scepter?

  4. Oh no! by rock217 · · Score: 5, Funny

    NOW who will fill my inbox?!

    --
    Wah Sig!
  5. That explains it by Seq · · Score: 5, Funny

    I had thought my Inbox was rather empty today...

    --
    -- Seq
  6. This isn't news for nerds.. by grasshoppa · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...unless they shot him.

    --
    Mod me down with all of your hatred and your journey towards the dark side will be complete!
  7. Re:Charged with what? by Coneasfast · · Score: 5, Informative

    Last time I checked, it was legal to e-mail someone you don't know.

    if you read the article (not slashdotted yet):

    The law also forbids spammers from using multiple e-mail addresses or domain names to camouflage their identities. Penalties include up to 20 years' imprisonment and an $11,000 fine per offense.

    Warrants show FBI agents sought evidence Ralsky and Bradley sent commercial e-mail using at least 14 domain names.

    --
    Marge, get me your address book, 4 beers, and my conversation hat.
  8. Call your FBI and say thanks! by azav · · Score: 5, Interesting

    I just phoned the Detroit office of the FBI who raided Ralsky's home at (313) 965-2323 and told the responding agent that I was so unbelievably happy that their office raided Alan Ralsky.

    The agent was amazed and replied "uh thank you. We don't get calls like this very often."

    OMG. Wow.

    This is an excellent opportunity to show your support that we STRONGLY support their action and efforts!

    If they know their is huge public support for this, that may help them to shut down more of these spammers!

    This is AWESOME!

    Just call and say thanks and this will keep things moving in the right direction.

    w00t!

    --
    - Zav - Imagine a Beowulf cluster of insensitive clods...
    1. Re:Call your FBI and say thanks! by schon · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I hardly get any spam at all. I use spamassassin on my server and junkmatcher on my client.

      If you hardly get any spam at all, then why do you need *TWO* spam filters?

      You *GET* lots of spam - just because you don't see it, doesn't mean it's not there.

  9. Re:Charged with what? by Sloppy · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Spam is awful, but 20 years in prison for it is just absurd.
    Oh, I agree. If I send a spam to someone, I should only have to spend a day in jail. Maybe even just an hour. Half an hour? Oh, whatever. And if I expect this reasonably light sentence for myself committing the mostly harmless (but nevertheless malicious and fraudulent) crime of spamming a fellow human being, then it's only fair for this guy to get a fair sentence likewise.

    So let's only imprison him for one hour..

    ..per victim.

    --
    As copyright owner of this comment, I authorize everyone to defeat any technological measure which limits access to it.
  10. Re:Charged with what? by keraneuology · · Score: 5, Insightful
    Most of the damage is not done to the user, but to the ISP, backbone providers and hosting providers. For the user it might be an annoyance, but for them it costs money.

    All higher costs incurred by the ISP are passed along to the consumer, ergo all of the damage is done to the user, though indirectly.

    --
    If the g'vt kept the data on you that google does you'd better believe you'd be calling it "doing evil"