A local spammer tracked down by ITWeb this week says Internet service providers (ISPs) have become significantly tougher on spam merchants than they have been in the past.
The spammer, who prefers not to have his name published, says that in his line of business, he expects to be closed down between 24 and 48 hours after setting up shop. Three years ago, he says, he could expect to remain in business for up to four days.
"ISPs have become very aggressive against this sort of thing. Only in the last year have they become so aggressive."
He notes, however, that the financial returns for spammers are significant. In his most recent business venture, he says, he sent out 75 000 e-mails, offering a selection of 12 000 South African sector-specific e-mail addresses for R780. For his trouble, he received almost 150 paid-for orders.
"The first contact I have with the client is after they deposit the money into my account."
He says he has been in the spamming business since 1994 and although his operation is always closed down, it is still very profitable. To collect e-mail addresses he uses a spider that searches the Internet for addresses.
"I source the e-mails every two days," he says. Validating the e-mail addresses is also a large part of the operation. "In fact, my business rests on that."
His international list of e-mail addresses now numbers 70 million in total. "There are so many out there on the Internet." He does, however, break down the list into different categories for selling onto clients.
As to the legitimacy of his business methods, he says he is well within his rights to do what he does. "If an e-mail address is published on a Web site, it is fair game. There is nothing illegal about what I am doing."
The hardest part of the business, he says, is that he has to set up a new e-mail address - usually a free Hotmail account - and a Web site for each of his "businesses".
Potential clients are directed to a `form responder` site such as www.responders.net which allows clients to submit their details. However, sites such as responders.net have strict no-spam policies.
The spammer, who lists 17 other businesses, some of them similar spam operations, as the source of his business, remains unrepentant.
"What other business gives you returns like this?" he asks.
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