Why can't the companies that pay for spam (e.g. Hoodia) be held responsible and prosecuted?

Question

I understand that it's difficult to identify exactly who sent the spam. But it's obvious which companies are paying for the spam, e.g. the online pharmacies, weight loss companies, etc. Why can't they be prosecuted for littering my inbox with crap?

Answer 1

Some spammers have been prosecuted. But it's a real pain to do it, and so many of the companies can get away with it due to plausible deniability -- "I didn't hire Joe Schmuck to send out hundreds of millions of e-mails to people advertising my product! He did it of his own free will . . ."

Answer 2

the CAN-SPAM act does impose civil and criminal penalties for certain types of spam. The problem is that these people rout and refilter their spam so that it's not traceable (or it's from a foreign country largely outside U.S. jurisdiction).
All you can do is just keep reporting -- I've even reported particularly egregious spam or phishing e-mails to the local and federal attorney general.

Answer 3

Because the law is wrong. But in a way it is there to protect people. For example: If i went round writing your name in spray paint in the town you live in who would they blame for the grafiti? not me thats for sure... it would be you they'd blame because its you name!

I know how annoying it is but i can see why the laws there.

Answer 4

you said it - no proof ( what else ? )

to be clear here - if i hire you to distribute my handbills and you glue them to peoples cars i am not prosecutable for your crime - that's the way the law works sorry cause we all hate spam

Answer 5

That's a good question to ask the Yahoo answers staff.

I'm so damn SICK of treasuretrooper.com,passions.com...

Answer 6

good question I think we should prosecute

Answer 7

its a money world what do u expect

Answer 8

http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39285004,00.htm