British Spammer Gets 6 Years

Killjoy_NL writes "The BBC tells us that a 23 year old spammer has been sentenced to 6 years in prison for sending spam and other illegal activities." From the article: "He had offered thousands of e-mail and website names when he had no right. And when victims complained, he threatened to destroy their internet systems by sending millions of spam e-mails. Peterborough Crown Court heard he also threatened to fire-bomb the headquarters of the county's trading standards department and petrol-bomb his local police headquarters. When internet policing group Nominet posted warnings about his activities, he responded by saying he would attack its servers." ZDNet has coverage as well.

Only six?

[slashrogue]

I'm sure it's easy to dismiss out of hand comments about bomb-threats from some random guy as actually being serious, but they must be taken seriously and from the proliferate amount of threats and general assholery, surely this guy deserves more than six years as a life lesson.

2 much or 2 little?

[yiantsbro]

At first glance you think "6 years for spam...damn that's harsh". Then you read what else he did and you think "damn, only 6 years"?

bait and switch

[JeanBaptiste]

This was a lot less about his spamming activities and a lot more about the "threatened to fire-bomb the headquarters of the county's trading standards department and petrol-bomb his local police headquarters." part.

The fact that he was also a spammer is a side-story. Had he not done the other stuff, I'm sure he'd still be happily spamming away.

And after looking at the picture, what a smarmy little punk.

Good Riddance.

[TripMaster Monkey]

Jackass. Interesting that this particular model citizen didn't stop with mere spamming, but added arson threats and murder threats to his repitoire. Hopefully, this will serve to further erase the fictitous dividing line between spammers and "real criminals".

Re:Title Misleading

[Iriel]

Precisly: this kid should be better labled as a terrorist or a thug (not the hip-hop variety) rather than a spammer. I still find it horrible that he was cleared of two accounts of threatening to kill.

Re:Title Misleading

[cindy]

It's like a bank robber who drove a car to the bank. "Motorist Gets 6 Years!" The article only mentions spamming in context of his other crimes.

Francis-Macrae was found guilty of two counts of fraudulent trading, one of concealing criminal property, two of making threats to kill, one charge of threatening to destroy or damage property and one count of blackmail.

The 23-year-old was cleared of two charges of making threats to kill.

Re:Title Misleading

[Thwomp]

Really, they were not so much threatening as embarrassing. When I heard them on the news I couldn't help but laugh. He probably got off because there was no intent and was panicking as the police were closing in on him. Although it's a shame that all the people he scammed will probably never see their money again.

Re:Title Misleading

[CyricZ]

He's not a "terrorist". His actions were apparently not politically motivated. It sounds like he was just trying to defend his business from those who opposed it.

I know it's trendy these days for political leaders to refer to anyone they don't like as "terrorists", but I think we can maintain a higher standard here and use the word as it should be used.

"Thug" is perhaps a more appropriate term.

Time for people to take responsibility.

[CyricZ]

Often times it is only the stupid who get scammed. Had these people taken the time to investigate the notice they received, then they most likely would not have been defrauded. They should have contacted their registrar to confirm the need for renewal, for instance. If they forgot who their registrar is, then they're just being irresponsible.

You speak of this guy owning up for the threats he made. Perhaps he should. But then again, his victims should own up to their mistakes. It was through their own negligence that they lost money. They willingly and voluntarily sent him the money. It's not like he came and took the money out of their wallets.

Editors are Jackasses!

[GodfatherofSoul]

WTF?!?!? I'm tired of this sensationalized, misleading garbage we're seeing in article summaries! This site has gone to hell and if the community moved elsewhere I would too. I don't even come here for the articles themselves any more, just to read the comments. Enough is enough! Try to at least PRETEND to have credibility!

Go ahead and mod me -5 FlAmEbAiT!!!!

Re:Title Misleading

[Iriel]

While you are correct in the modern context (and current dictionary definition) of the word, the roots of the word itself imply that a terrorist is traditionally someone who uses fear tactics and general psychological fuckery to further their goals (see also: The current US presidency). If this thug is threatening to fire-bomb and murder a few people in order to protect his scamming business, I would classify him as a low-level terrorist, however poorly organized.

That's just my 22 cents ;)

Re:Title Misleading

[Buran]

Defending one's business is one thing, but threatening to attack other people who point out that your business is based on dishonesty and illegality is another entirely. I'd say he got what he deserved, regardless of whether or not "terrorist" is the right term (I agree that it isn't).

Re:You're still not understanding the situation.

[Guysmiley777]

for whatever reason

For whatever reason?!? THAT IS THE FRAUD! Good God man! They sent him money because he sent out notifications to domain name holders based on WHOIS info and told them to pay up or lose their domain name.

Re:You're still not understanding the situation.

[Guysmiley777]

Interesting, you believe that fraud should be legal because only irresponsible people would "fall for it"? I can't really argue that point any more than saying I disagree.

But, hey, thanks for the name calling, that's very mature! And kudos for the straw-man there too, if you can't argue the point argue the opponent!

Re:Title Misleading

[SomeoneGotMyNick]

The problem is that "terrorist" is a heavy word nowadays.

Actually, it's used more like Kleenex is used for a tissue, or Scotch Tape is used for cellophane tape, Band-Aid for bandage, etc....

Criminal == Terrorist