Feds pursue suspected spammers

USA TODAY, January, 2005 by Jon Swartz

Federal authorities are quietly carrying out a series of raids against the nation's biggest suspected spam operators in their most aggressive actions yet.

Sometimes striking in the early morning, FBI agents and other law enforcement in recent weeks have pounced on ventures in Florida, Arizona, New Jersey and New York that allegedly used spam to defraud consumers and steal personal information. More actions are expected.

Computer equipment is being seized in hopes of unearthing evidence that will flush out associates worldwide and lead to criminal charges, FBI agents say. The searches are being conducted under a year-old federal anti-spam law.

The actions are the latest wrinkle in the fight against spam, which has flourished despite high-profile legislation...