14 DAY TRIAL // Because spamming is more and more popular and very difficult to block, many companies decide to send numerous messages to advertise their products without considering that spamming is an illegal activity on the internet. Because a lot of users are continuously reporting that unwanted e-mails are sent to their account, authorities from al around the world started a powerful campaign to fine all the users or companies that are using spamming as an advertising method.
Recently, several publications reported that a couple from US was arrested for sending 1.6 billion spam messages between September and December 2006. Some time ago, another spammer was accused of SMS spamming, sending a huge number of mobile messages to handheld owners from United States.
Today, the US Federal Trade Commission announced that an adult entertainment company, TJ Web Productions, was fined with $465.000 for initiating an e-mail spamming campaign and for sending messaging with adult content without applying the "Sexually Explicit" label.
The fine imposed by the Federal Trade Commission is a part of an entire campaign started by the organization in July 2005 when seven companies were accused of violating federal laws and for sending e-mail messages without labeling them as having sexual content.
"According to the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) Nevada-based TJ Web Productions, which operates dozens of websites containing adult photographs and videos, have widely distributed sexually explicit emails since May 2004. Under FTC rules spammers must include the warning 'SEXUALLY-EXPLICIT: ' in the subject lines of their pornographic emails or face fines. Spammers who do not clearly label their sexually orientated messages are in violation of federal law. As part of the settlement, TJ Web Productions has agreed to adhere to federal spam laws in future email campaigns. Additionally, emails will now have to include an opt-out email contact and postal address," security company Sophos reported.