250 websites tied to 'Internet Spam Gang' shut down
An estimated 250 illegal websites operated by a sophisticated ring of "spammers" using unsolicited, deceptive emails to lure consumers into buying unapproved counterfeit drugs, pirated software and pornography no longer exist in cyberspace, Attorney General Tom Reilly announced today.
The demise of the websites is a direct result of a May 11 lawsuit AG Reilly filed accusing Leo Kuvayev and six individuals with Massachusetts ties of running an elaborate “spam” operation in violation of state and federal consumer protection laws. Attorneys from AG Reilly’s Consumer Protection and Antitrust Division also sought and obtained an emergency court order effectively shutting down hundreds of websites operated by members of the "Internet Spam Gang." Today, attorneys from AG Reilly’s Office were back in court arguing to keep the operators of this complicated web of Internet sites out of cyberspace.
"Annoying email is one thing, but these 'spammers' were peddling unapproved, counterfeit drugs to the public and sending messages with blind links to sexually explicit websites," AG Reilly said. "The spam distributed by members of the ‘Internet Spam Gang’ threatened public safety."
