October 13, 2004
A company accused of sending out thousands of unsolicited emails pitching low-interest mortgages has settled a case with the state of Massachusetts. DC Enterprises and owner William C. Carson of Weston, Florida, agreed to a $25,000 fine and promised not to violate anti-spam laws in the future.
Massachusetts Attorney General Tom Reilly brought charges against the company, saying the emails were in direct violation of the U.S. Can-Spam Act and the Massachusetts Consumer Protection Act because they lacked provisions allowing consumers to get off the sender's mailing list, lacked valid return addresses, and didn't clearly state they were ads.
Prosecutors have been actively pursuing illegal spammers since the new laws have been in place. Consumers, angry about their inboxes being clogged with unwanted pitches, have been cheering them on.
Among the recent high-profile cases is New York's action against a trio of companies - Westminster, Colo.-based OptInRealBig.com, New York-based Synergy 6 Inc., and Plano, Texas-based Delta Seven Communications LLC - for allegedly violating anti-spam laws.
In July, OptInRealBig.com settled with New York for the relatively small fine of $50,000, and without admitting wrongdoing. Some anti-spam groups say it's great that prosecutors are actively targeting spammers, but complain they won't be brought under control until serious fines are levied.
