Evidence gathered by EarthLink's fraud and abuse team has led to the arrest of individuals who allegedly sent over 25,000 e-mail messages using PeoplePC accounts. PeoplePC is a leading provider of high-quality, value-priced Internet service and subsidiary of EarthLink.
R. Alexander Acosta, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, has charged Jared Cosgrave and Mohammed Haque with fraud and related activity in connection with electronic mail in violation of the CAN-SPAM Act. Both have pled guilty to the charge filed.
"Spammers who set up PeoplePC accounts for the sole purpose of sending spam will be dealt with harshly. EarthLink is committed to cracking down on any abuse of our networks," said Lindsey Wegrzyn, EarthLink's operations security enforcement advisor. "We commend the South Florida Attorney General's Office and Miami FBI for helping to shut down this spamming operation."
The arrests and charges come after a month long investigation last year by EarthLink's fraud and abuse team. In November of 2005, the team discovered thousands of unsolicited e-mails with the subject lines "I'm finally back home" and "I just got back in town." They also became aware of another stream of messages promoting herbal supplements.
Upon further investigation, the abuse team determined that both types of e-mails were being sent through PeoplePC accounts originating from Miami, Florida. The team acted quickly to close the accounts and alert the FBI. FBI agents tracked the source of the emails and a search warrant was issued that led to arrests of the alleged spammers.
"Having the support of EarthLink's fraud and abuse team is one more reason that PeoplePC is able to deliver high quality, value-priced Internet service," said David Rowland, PeoplePC's group vice president and general manager. "Catching spammers who sent thousands of e-mail messages using a PeoplePC account is key to helping our 1.4 million members have a hassle-free Internet experience."
EarthLink continues to take a tough stance toward spammers. Since 1996, the company has sued hundreds of spammers and won more than $200 million in judgments, including two criminal convictions against spammers who received prison sentences for their offenses.
