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'''Alan Ralsky''' (born c. 1945) is a convicted [[United States|American]] fraudster, best known for his activities as a [[spam (electronic)|spammer]].
{{short description|Email spammer and convicted fraudster}}
'''Alan Ralsky''' ({{c.}} 1945–2021) was a convicted [[United States|American]] fraudster, best known for his activities as a [[spam (electronic)|spammer]].


==Spamming==
==Spamming==
⚫
Ralsky was one of the most prolific sources of junk e-mail worldwide. Unlike most spammers, he provided interviews to various newspapers, although he claimed to be a commercial e-mailer rather than a spammer. He claimed that he was a legitimate business that complied with all laws,<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news|author=Joel Kurth |url=http://www.cmsconnect.com/News/CMSInPrint/DN-020804-pg2.htm |title=Junk e-mail foes target spam king |publisher=Detroit News |date=2002-08-04 |access-date=2014-05-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124150928/http://www.cmsconnect.com/News/CMSInPrint/DN-020804-pg2.htm |archive-date=2014-01-24 }}</ref> but was convicted of spamming and other fraudulent activities in June 2009.

⚫
Ralsky was one of the most prolific sources of junk e-mail worldwide. Unlike most spammers, he has provided interviews to various newspapers, although he claimed to be a commercial e-mailer rather than a spammer. He claimed that his was a legitimate business which complied with all laws,<ref name=autogenerated1>{{cite news|author=Joel Kurth |url=http://www.cmsconnect.com/News/CMSInPrint/DN-020804-pg2.htm |title=Junk e-mail foes target spam king |publisher=Detroit News |date=2002-08-04 |accessdate=2014-05-29 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140124150928/http://www.cmsconnect.com/News/CMSInPrint/DN-020804-pg2.htm |archivedate=2014-01-24 }}</ref> but was convicted of spamming and other fraudulent activities in June 2009.


Ralsky apparently began his spamming career in 1996, when his licenses to sell insurance were revoked in Michigan and Illinois.<ref name=autogenerated1 />
Ralsky apparently began his spamming career in 1996, when his licenses to sell insurance were revoked in Michigan and Illinois.<ref name=autogenerated1 />


He gained much of his notoriety following a December 2002 interview with ''[[The Detroit News]]''. The article was soon posted to [[Slashdot]] and the address of his newly built home was posted to Slashdot not long after that.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://it.slashdot.org/story/02/11/22/1658256/another-millionaire-spammer-story |title=Another Millionaire Spammer Story - Slashdot |publisher=Slashdot.org |date= |accessdate=2013-03-02}}</ref> Hundreds of Slashdot readers then searched the [[Internet]] for advertising mailing lists and free catalogs and signed him up for them. As a result, he was flooded with [[direct marketing|junk mail]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://beta.slashdot.org/story/30630 |title=HOWTO: Annoy a Spammer |publisher=Slashdot |accessdate=2013-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302060008/http://beta.slashdot.org/story/30630 |archive-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a ''[[Detroit Free Press]]'' article on December 6, 2002, he is quoted as saying, "They've signed me up for every advertising campaign and mailing list there is. These people are out of their minds. They're harassing me."<ref>{{cite news
He gained much of his notoriety following a December 2002 interview with ''[[The Detroit News]]''. The article was posted to [[Slashdot]] and the address of his newly built home was posted to Slashdot not long after that.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://it.slashdot.org/story/02/11/22/1658256/another-millionaire-spammer-story |title=Another Millionaire Spammer Story - Slashdot |publisher=Slashdot.org |access-date=2013-03-02}}</ref> Hundreds of Slashdot readers then searched the [[Internet]] for advertising mailing lists and free catalogs and signed him up for them. As a result, he was flooded with [[direct marketing|junk mail]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://beta.slashdot.org/story/30630 |title=HOWTO: Annoy a Spammer |publisher=Slashdot |access-date=2013-03-02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302060008/http://beta.slashdot.org/story/30630 |archive-date=2014-03-02 |url-status=dead }}</ref> In a ''Detroit Free Press'' article on December 6, 2002, he is quoted as saying, "They've signed me up for every advertising campaign and mailing list there is. These people are out of their minds. They're harassing me."<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-3495-Spammer-Gets-Junkmailed.html
|url=http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-3495-Spammer-Gets-Junkmailed.html
|title='Spammer Gets Junkmailed'
|title=Spammer Gets Junkmailed
|publisher=TechSpot
|publisher=TechSpot
|date=2002-11-12
|date=2002-11-12
|accessdate=2009-11-26}}</ref>
|access-date=2009-11-26}}</ref>


==Legal timeline==
==Legal timeline==
* In 1992 he served a fifty-day sentence for selling unregistered [[security (finance)|securities]].<ref>[http://www.freep.com/money/tech/mwend22_20021122.htm ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040202000752/http://www.freep.com/money/tech/mwend22_20021122.htm |date=February 2, 2004 }}</ref>
* In 1992 he served a fifty-day sentence for selling unregistered [[security (finance)|securities]].<ref>[http://www.freep.com/money/tech/mwend22_20021122.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040202000752/http://www.freep.com/money/tech/mwend22_20021122.htm|date=February 2, 2004}}</ref>
* On August 7, 1995, he pleaded guilty to federal [[bank fraud]] in [[Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spamhaus.org/rokso/evidence/ROK5535/alan-ralsky/legal-troubles-usa-vs-ralsky-felony-bank-fraud-1995 |title=ROKSO - Register of Known Spam Operations - The Spamhaus Project |publisher=Spamhaus.org |date= |accessdate=2013-03-02}}</ref> He served three years [[probation]] for a [[felony]] charge of falsifying banking records.<ref>[http://www.detnews.com/2005/technology/0510/16/B01-349738.htm ]{{Dead link|date=March 2013}}</ref>
* On August 7, 1995, he pleaded guilty to federal [[bank fraud]] in [[Ohio]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spamhaus.org/rokso/evidence/ROK5535/alan-ralsky/legal-troubles-usa-vs-ralsky-felony-bank-fraud-1995 |title=ROKSO - Register of Known Spam Operations - The Spamhaus Project |publisher=Spamhaus.org |access-date=2013-03-02}}</ref> He served three years [[probation]] for a [[felony]] charge of falsifying banking records.<ref>[http://www.detnews.com/2005/technology/0510/16/B01-349738.htm]{{Dead link|date=March 2013}}</ref>
* On March 14, 1999, he pleaded guilty to [[misprision of felony]] in [[Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spamhaus.org/rokso/evidence/ROK1413/alan-ralsky/legal-troubles-in-michigan |title=ROKSO - Register of Known Spam Operations - The Spamhaus Project |publisher=Spamhaus.org |date= |accessdate=2013-03-02}}</ref>
* On March 14, 1999, he pleaded guilty to [[misprision of felony]] in [[Michigan]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spamhaus.org/rokso/evidence/ROK1413/alan-ralsky/legal-troubles-in-michigan |title=ROKSO - Register of Known Spam Operations - The Spamhaus Project |publisher=Spamhaus.org |access-date=2013-03-02}}</ref>
* In early October, 2005, a [[warrant (law)|warrant]] was unsealed, showing the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) raided Alan Ralsky's home in September. In the raid, the FBI took computers, financial records, and even the ''Detroit News'' article cited above. They then raided his son-in-law's home. Ralsky's business was not legally shut down, but he was unable to operate following the raid.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2005-10-16-fbi-spammer_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=FBI raid shuts down suspected spammer | date=2005-10-16 | accessdate=2010-04-23}}</ref>
* In early October, 2005, a [[warrant (law)|warrant]] was unsealed, showing the [[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] (FBI) raided Alan Ralsky's home in September. In the raid, the FBI took computers, financial records, and even the ''Detroit News'' article cited above. They then raided his son-in-law's home. Ralsky's business was not legally shut down, but he was unable to operate following the raid.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/tech/news/techpolicy/2005-10-16-fbi-spammer_x.htm | work=USA Today | title=FBI raid shuts down suspected spammer | date=2005-10-16 | access-date=2010-04-23}}</ref>
* On January 3, 2008, Ralsky and ten others were indicted based on the results of a three-year investigation.<ref>{{cite news | first= | last= | coauthors= | title=Alan Ralsky, Ten Others, Indicted In International Illegal Spamming And Stock Fraud Scheme | date=2008-01-03 | publisher=U.S. Department of Justice | url =http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/January/08_crm_003.html | work = | pages = | accessdate = 2008-01-04 | language = }}</ref> The indictment included stock fraud charges stemming from a "[[pump and dump]]" scheme.
* On January 3, 2008, Ralsky and ten others were indicted based on the results of a three-year investigation.<ref>{{cite news | title=Alan Ralsky, Ten Others, Indicted In International Illegal Spamming And Stock Fraud Scheme | date=2008-01-03 | publisher=U.S. Department of Justice | url =http://www.usdoj.gov/opa/pr/2008/January/08_crm_003.html | access-date = 2008-01-04 }}</ref> The indictment included stock fraud charges stemming from a "[[pump and dump]]" scheme.
* On January 9, 2008, Ralsky was [[Arraignment|arraigned]] on the charges that he was indicted for on January 3, 2008. He was silent during the arraignment, so a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last= Ashenfelter |title=Man arraigned on charges he sent e-mail to inflate stocks |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20080109/NEWS01/80109104 |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |publisher= [[Gannett Company]] |location=[[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]] |date=2008-01-09 |accessdate=2008-01-16}}</ref>
* On January 9, 2008, Ralsky was [[Arraignment|arraigned]] on the charges that he was indicted for on January 3, 2008. He was silent during the arraignment, so a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.<ref>{{cite news |first=David |last= Ashenfelter |title=Man arraigned on charges he sent e-mail to inflate stocks |url=http://www.freep.com/article/20080109/NEWS01/80109104 |work=[[Detroit Free Press]] |publisher= [[Gannett Company]] |location=[[Detroit|Detroit, Michigan]] |date=2008-01-09 |access-date=2008-01-16}}</ref>
* On June 22, 2009, he pleaded guilty to [[wire fraud]], [[mail fraud]], [[money laundering]] charges and violating the [[CAN-SPAM Act]].<ref>{{cite news
* On June 22, 2009, he pleaded guilty to [[wire fraud]], [[mail fraud]], [[money laundering]] charges and violating the [[CAN-SPAM Act]].<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://detroit.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/de062209.htm
|url=http://detroit.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/de062209.htm
|title='Detroit Spammer and Four Co-Conspirators Plead Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar E-Mail Stock Fraud Scheme'
|title=Detroit Spammer and Four Co-Conspirators Plead Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar E-Mail Stock Fraud Scheme
|publisher=Department of Justice
|publisher=Department of Justice
|date=2009-06-22
|date=2009-06-22
|accessdate=2009-06-25
|access-date=2009-06-25
|url-status=dead
|url-status=dead
|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626003411/http://detroit.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/de062209.htm
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090626003411/http://detroit.fbi.gov/dojpressrel/pressrel09/de062209.htm
|archivedate=2009-06-26
|archive-date=2009-06-26
}}</ref> He agreed to assist in the prosecution of other spammers in exchange for [[Sentence (law)|sentencing]] consideration.<ref>{{cite news
}}</ref> He agreed to assist in the prosecution of other spammers in exchange for [[Sentence (law)|sentencing]] consideration.<ref>{{cite news
|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/23/Spam-King-pleads-guilty-in-Detroit/UPI-18071245770825/
|url=http://www.upi.com/Top_News/2009/06/23/Spam-King-pleads-guilty-in-Detroit/UPI-18071245770825/
Line 35: Line 35:
|publisher=UPI
|publisher=UPI
|date=2009-06-23
|date=2009-06-23
|accessdate=2009-06-23
|access-date=2009-06-23
}}</ref>
}}</ref>
* On November 23, 2009, he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge [[Marianne O. Battani]] to four years, three months in jail. He was also fined $250,000.<ref>[http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/NEWS05/91123066/1002/BUSINESS/Spam-King-gets-4-years-for-fraud ] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127073829/http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/NEWS05/91123066/1002/BUSINESS/Spam-King-gets-4-years-for-fraud |date=November 27, 2009 }}</ref><ref>[http://www.detnews.com/article/20091123/METRO/911230388/1013/Mich.-junk-e-mail-king-gets-prison-in-penny-stock-scam ]{{Dead link|date=May 2014}}</ref>
* On November 23, 2009, he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge [[Marianne Battani]] to four years, three months in jail. He was also fined $250,000.<ref>[http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/NEWS05/91123066/1002/BUSINESS/Spam-King-gets-4-years-for-fraud] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091127073829/http://www.freep.com/article/20091123/NEWS05/91123066/1002/BUSINESS/Spam-King-gets-4-years-for-fraud|date=November 27, 2009}}</ref><ref>[http://www.detnews.com/article/20091123/METRO/911230388/1013/Mich.-junk-e-mail-king-gets-prison-in-penny-stock-scam]{{Dead link|date=May 2014}}</ref>
* Alan Ralsky was inmate No. 19509-039 at the [[Federal Correctional Institution, Morgantown]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spamhaus.org/news.lasso?article=658 |title=Canned Spammer: |publisher=Spamhaus.org |date= |accessdate=2013-03-02}}</ref>
* Alan Ralsky was inmate No. 19509-039 at the [[Federal Correctional Institution, Morgantown]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.spamhaus.org/news.lasso?article=658 |title=Canned Spammer |publisher=Spamhaus.org |access-date=2013-03-02}}</ref>
* He was released on 14 September 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=alan&Middle=&LastName=ralsky&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=89&y=16 |title=Federal Bureau of Prisons |publisher=Bop.gov |date=2012-09-14 |accessdate=2013-03-02}}</ref>
* He was released on 14 September 2012.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=alan&Middle=&LastName=ralsky&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=89&y=16 |title=Federal Bureau of Prisons |publisher=Bop.gov |date=2012-09-14 |access-date=2013-03-02 |archive-date=2012-09-25 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925185416/http://www.bop.gov/iloc2/InmateFinderServlet?Transaction=NameSearch&needingMoreList=false&FirstName=alan&Middle=&LastName=ralsky&Race=U&Sex=U&Age=&x=89&y=16 |url-status=dead }}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
⚫
* [[List of spammers]]

⚫
* [[Peter Levashov]], a partner of Ralsky according to [[The Spamhaus Project]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spamhaus.org/rokso/spammer/SPM893/peter-severa-peter-levashov|access-date=3 February 2018|title=ROKSO Register of Known Spam Operations - Peter Severa / Peter Levashov|publisher=Spamhaus.org}}</ref>
⚫
*[[List of spammers]]
⚫
*[[Peter Levashov]], was a partner of Ralsky according to [[The Spamhaus Project]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spamhaus.org/rokso/spammer/SPM893/peter-severa-peter-levashov|accessdate=3 February 2018|title=ROKSO Register of Known Spam Operations - Peter Severa / Peter Levashov|publisher=Spamhaus.org}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


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{{DEFAULTSORT:Ralsky, Alan}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ralsky, Alan}}
[[Category:American computer criminals]]
[[Category:American cybercriminals]]
[[Category:American people convicted of fraud]]
[[Category:American people convicted of fraud]]
[[Category:American prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:American prisoners and detainees]]
[[Category:American white-collar criminals]]
[[Category:Email spammers]]
[[Category:Email spammers]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Latest revision as of 22:54, 7 December 2023

Alan Ralsky (c. 1945–2021) was a convicted American fraudster, best known for his activities as a spammer.

Spamming

[edit]

Ralsky was one of the most prolific sources of junk e-mail worldwide. Unlike most spammers, he provided interviews to various newspapers, although he claimed to be a commercial e-mailer rather than a spammer. He claimed that he was a legitimate business that complied with all laws,[1] but was convicted of spamming and other fraudulent activities in June 2009.

Ralsky apparently began his spamming career in 1996, when his licenses to sell insurance were revoked in Michigan and Illinois.[1]

He gained much of his notoriety following a December 2002 interview with The Detroit News. The article was posted to Slashdot and the address of his newly built home was posted to Slashdot not long after that.[2] Hundreds of Slashdot readers then searched the Internet for advertising mailing lists and free catalogs and signed him up for them. As a result, he was flooded with junk mail.[3] In a Detroit Free Press article on December 6, 2002, he is quoted as saying, "They've signed me up for every advertising campaign and mailing list there is. These people are out of their minds. They're harassing me."[4]

[edit]
  • In 1992 he served a fifty-day sentence for selling unregistered securities.[5]
  • On August 7, 1995, he pleaded guilty to federal bank fraud in Ohio.[6] He served three years probation for a felony charge of falsifying banking records.[7]
  • On March 14, 1999, he pleaded guilty to misprision of felony in Michigan.[8]
  • In early October, 2005, a warrant was unsealed, showing the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) raided Alan Ralsky's home in September. In the raid, the FBI took computers, financial records, and even the Detroit News article cited above. They then raided his son-in-law's home. Ralsky's business was not legally shut down, but he was unable to operate following the raid.[9]
  • On January 3, 2008, Ralsky and ten others were indicted based on the results of a three-year investigation.[10] The indictment included stock fraud charges stemming from a "pump and dump" scheme.
  • On January 9, 2008, Ralsky was arraigned on the charges that he was indicted for on January 3, 2008. He was silent during the arraignment, so a plea of not guilty was entered on his behalf.[11]
  • On June 22, 2009, he pleaded guilty to wire fraud, mail fraud, money laundering charges and violating the CAN-SPAM Act.[12] He agreed to assist in the prosecution of other spammers in exchange for sentencing consideration.[13]
  • On November 23, 2009, he was sentenced by U.S. District Judge Marianne Battani to four years, three months in jail. He was also fined $250,000.[14][15]
  • Alan Ralsky was inmate No. 19509-039 at the Federal Correctional Institution, Morgantown.[16]
  • He was released on 14 September 2012.[17]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b Joel Kurth (2002-08-04). "Junk e-mail foes target spam king". Detroit News. Archived from the original on 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2014-05-29.
  2. ^ "Another Millionaire Spammer Story - Slashdot". Slashdot.org. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  3. ^ "HOWTO: Annoy a Spammer". Slashdot. Archived from the original on 2014-03-02. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  4. ^ "Spammer Gets Junkmailed". TechSpot. 2002-11-12. Retrieved 2009-11-26.
  5. ^ [1] Archived February 2, 2004, at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "ROKSO - Register of Known Spam Operations - The Spamhaus Project". Spamhaus.org. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  7. ^ [2][dead link‍]
  8. ^ "ROKSO - Register of Known Spam Operations - The Spamhaus Project". Spamhaus.org. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  9. ^ "FBI raid shuts down suspected spammer". USA Today. 2005-10-16. Retrieved 2010-04-23.
  10. ^ "Alan Ralsky, Ten Others, Indicted In International Illegal Spamming And Stock Fraud Scheme". U.S. Department of Justice. 2008-01-03. Retrieved 2008-01-04.
  11. ^ Ashenfelter, David (2008-01-09). "Man arraigned on charges he sent e-mail to inflate stocks". Detroit Free Press. Detroit, Michigan: Gannett Company. Retrieved 2008-01-16.
  12. ^ "Detroit Spammer and Four Co-Conspirators Plead Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar E-Mail Stock Fraud Scheme". Department of Justice. 2009-06-22. Archived from the original on 2009-06-26. Retrieved 2009-06-25.
  13. ^ "'Spam King' pleads guilty in Detroit". UPI. 2009-06-23. Retrieved 2009-06-23.
  14. ^ [3] Archived November 27, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ [4][dead link‍]
  16. ^ "Canned Spammer". Spamhaus.org. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  17. ^ "Federal Bureau of Prisons". Bop.gov. 2012-09-14. Archived from the original on 2012-09-25. Retrieved 2013-03-02.
  18. ^ "ROKSO Register of Known Spam Operations - Peter Severa / Peter Levashov". Spamhaus.org. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
[edit]
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