Monday, November 1, 2010

RAEC Press Release: Exposing the largest spammer in the world

This is a re-posting of a press release posted to the official RAEC website on Oct. 29th, 2010.

RAEC is the "Russian Association of Electronic Communication" who are tasked with investigating Russia-based online criminal activities.

Exposing the largest spammer in the world - the beginning of a real fight against cybercrime in Russia
29.10.2010

November 2 at 14:00 Interfax RAEC (Commission on Cybercrime) holds a press conference with representatives of the investigating authorities, relevant law enforcement agencies and the Internet industry participants.

Recall that as a result of search operations by Russian police was disclosed to the world's biggest criminal network, which specialized in distribution of pharmacological spam. According to the results of operational activities have been prosecuted at the head of a partner network Glavmed Gusev Igor Anatolyevich.

"It's a spammer Gusev" has received wide publicity, not only in Russia but throughout the world and has been reflected in major world media, including: The Washington Post, Gizmodo Australia, BBC, MSNBC, The Register, The New York Times, Bild, Telegraph, PC World, ABC.es, Los Mas Hablados, Bild.de, O Globo, France 24, iHNed.cz, ThaiIndian, Softpedia, MSN India, Gizmodo Australia, The New York Observer, Infosecurity Magazine, Le Monde, DailyFinance, The Inquirer, Bloomberg, Reuters and others

The authors of publications have expressed similar viewpoints on a sensational disclosure:

The correspondent of The New York Times, Andrew Kramer (Andrew Kramer) binds enhancing law enforcement actions against Gusev initiatives the president of Russia Dmitry Medvedev : "In summer 2010, the President visited Silicon Valley in California and during his visit repeatedly stated that Russia intends to legitimize its own Internet space, to fight against piracy, hackers and other manifestations of shady business in the network."

Similar position adheres Helen Popkin (Helen AS Popkin) from MSNBC: «In June, Dmitri Medvedev was in California, where he met with the organizers of Silicon Valley. Site SpamIt.com mysteriously closed for two weeks before October 10 in Moscow from Silicon Valley came the response, the delegation headed by the Governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger."

"It Gusev said that Russian authorities are determined to fight the status quo. And although the spamming under Russian law is not a crime, it can be classified as illegal entrepreneurship" - told the press Pavel Zaitsev, a member of the public organization" National Anti-Corruption Committee.

Gusev - this is only the first target. At the disposal of the investigation was an impressive list of Russian spammers, as well as a list of all the illegal purchase of counterfeit "Viagra" and other drugs by U.S. citizens since 2006. ?. All participants in such illegal activities would be exposed.

"Commission on Cyber Crime RAEC over a year now waging a campaign to fight spam, and we are pleased to present the first, but the significant results of this work. Thanks to the efforts of our experts and law enforcement agencies the world's spam level dropped by almost half, "- said the deputy director of RAEC Sergei Grebennikov.

About a year ago RAEC stepped up its activities aimed at improving Russia's investment climate abroad, to offer a program to combat spam. The program included a series of measures, one of which - a series of pinpoint strikes on partner programs, including those mentioned in the "GlavMed" network, which has the maximum share of the market and is largely due to a negative attitude towards Russia as a source of spam.

Commission RAEC against cybercrime invites all interested journalists for a press conference, enlightenment this issue, which will bring together industry experts, representatives of the investigating authorities and the relevant law enforcement agencies.

A detailed list of the press conference will be presented on Monday.

Information on press conferences:
Venue: Interfax, Moscow, st. Tverskaya-Yamskaya 1-I, 2, p. 1
Conference dates: November 2 (Tuesday) from 14:00 to 16:00

Contact information:
pr@raec.ru , +7 926 654 24 26, +7 495 950 56551
Lihopersky Ivan

Any findings from this press conference will be collated and posted here. Stay tuned.

SiL