Drivers license spam scam busted
Friday, January 17, 2003 Posted: 9:45 AM EST (1445 GMT)
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WASHINGTON (Reuters) -- Several unscrupulous "spammers" have been shut down after bombarding Internet users with e-mail offers for allegedly bogus international drivers' licenses, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission said Thursday.
The move should put the brakes on a common scam that has evolved into one of the most prevalent forms of unwanted junk e-mail over the past several years.
The FTC charged six online marketers with selling international drivers' licenses that actually are not recognized by any government, targeting immigrants and those who have had their real licenses revoked.
No such privileges
The alleged scam artists -- who operated under a variety of names -- charged up to $375 for a license that could supposedly win back suspended driving privileges and make holders immune to speeding tickets or other traffic violations, the watchdog agency said.
Legitimate international licenses confer no such privileges, but only translate an existing state-issued license into a number of different languages, said Howard Beales, head of the FTC's consumer-protection division.
"These scam artists act as if they have a license to deceive customers," Beales said.
Spam not illegal
Drivers presenting these fake international licenses to police could face fines and a "custodial environment," said Mike Muth, an assistant director at Interpol, the international police organization.
Five of those named have had their assets frozen by U.S. courts, Beales said, while a court decision on the sixth defendant is expected within several days.
Although spam is widely regarded as one of the top nuisances on the Internet, it is not illegal under U.S. law.
The FTC pursues spammers who violate existing laws against deceptive and unfair trade practices, and has announced roughly 150 settlements over the past year.
Consumers are encouraged to forward spam to the FTC for analysis and possible prosecution. The agency currently collects roughly 75,000 spam messages a day, an aide said.
Congressional efforts to limit spam have stumbled over opposition from direct marketers who say their activities would be unfairly limited, but lawmakers, notably Montana Republican Sen. Conrad Burns, are vowing to try again this year.
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