Russian Spammer Assassinated

[Lemur]

Gotta hand it to the Ruskies, they know how to deal with spammers:

Alexey Tolstokozhev, a Russian spammer, found murdered in his luxury house near Moscow. He has been shot several times with one bullet stuck in his head. According to authorities, this last head shot is a clear mark of russian hit men (known as "killers" in Russia).

Who hated Tolstokozhev so much as to hire a hit man to assasinate him? Well, I guess you have about one billion e-mail users to suspect. Tolstokozhev was a famous spammer who sent millions of e-mail promoting viagra, cialis, penis enlargement pills and other medications. Links in these e-mails usually led to some pharmacy shop, which paid Tolstokozhev a share of its revenue. This is a well known affiliate scheme employed by spammers worldwide. Tolstokozhev is estimated to be responsible for up to 30% percent of all viagra and penis enlargement related spam.

[Crazed Rabbit]

Generally, I'm against assassinations. But I do hate to generalize such a complex situation.

CR

[Rodion Romanovich]

I who thought the first spammer in the world to be found dead would have injuries not form a gun but from a woodcutter axe

Anyone dare write +1? I'm pretty sure I don't!

[Louis VI the Fat]

Okay, now people don't need to die, but somewhere deep down my evil side is screaming good riddance.

In order to send millions and millions of unsolicited letters, Tolstokozhev employed a network of infected computers (so-called "botnet"), which he rented from hackers.

How profitable is spam? Well, the authorities say that Tolstokozhev has likely made more than $2 million in 2007 alone. (in comparison: average russian monthly salary is $400)

This is a second murder of a spammer in Russia. Another russian spammer, Vardan Kushnir, was assassinated in 2005.

"Violent murders is a clear sign that spam becomes a serious criminal activity" - the officials say. "Easy money attracts criminals, which bring their own version of "justice" with them."

Sounds like he didn't want to have the time and effort he stole from me stolen by others. Live by sword, die by the sword.

[Lemur]

Generally, I'm against assassinations. But I do hate to generalize such a complex situation.

That gave me an honest-to-goodness LOL.

[Big King Sanctaphrax]

A shooting? How unimaginative. You'd think they'd have at least slipped him a huge overdose of viagra, or something else suitably ironic.

Honestly, I think the Russians are losing their touch sometimes.

[Samurai Waki]

I think the Russians need to play Hit Man a little more, I mean Litivenko's(sp?) Assassination was interesting, but just using a gun seems unimaginative.

[Spino]

IN RUSSIA ANTI-SPAMWARE FIND YOU...






Hey, anyone know where I can I download that plug-in?

[Pannonian]

Story apparently a hoax.

Russian spammer murder hoax exposed
Thick Skin yarn punctured
By John Leyden → More by this author
Published Friday 12th October 2007 09:42 GMT

A yarn that a prolific Russian spammer was whacked by Russian hit-men is increasingly looking like a hoax.

The supposed assassination of one "Alexey Tolstokozhev" in Moscow, was first reported on a website run by "Alex Loonov".

Loonov's account (at loonov.com/russian-viagra-and-penis-enlargement-spammer-murdered.htm) seemed all too plausible to the casual observer, especially since it played into public perceptions about the Russian mafia.

Alexey Tolstokozhev (btw, in Russian his name means 'Thick Skin'), a Russian spammer, found murdered in his luxury house near Moscow. He has been shot several times with one bullet stuck in his head. According to authorities, this last head shot is a clear mark of russian hit men (known as "killers" in Russia).

The story was picked up by blogs and spread rapidly across the net.

Unfortunately, the tale is a load of cobblers.

First up, the name Alexey Tolstokozhev doesn't appear on Spamhaus' ROKSO list, an odd omission for a supposedly prolific spammer. Perhaps he's managed to dodge ISP takedown orders, if not assassins bullets.

Or perhaps not.

Alexey Tolstokozhev fails to show up on any web searches either, except in the context of his supposed assassination. Informed parties, such as Sunbelt president and chief executive Alex Eckelberry, have never heard of him either.

Eckelberry did a little digging and discovered that Loonov's website, where reports of the hit first surfaced, was only registered on Tuesday and with EST Domains, an operation that has attracted complaints about hosting malware.

Loonov's website is free of malware (at least at the time of writing) but distinctly whiffy. Bloggers who first took the story at face value have begun to reverse their positions.

[Lemur]

This sucks, Beavis. I really wanted this story to be true.

[KrooK]

Hmm maybe we should give him Total War Award for Best Community Contributor.

I mean that killer?