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Story URL: http://www.silicon.com/research/specialreports/thespamreport/0,39025001,39119658,00.htm

AOL raffles off spammer's confiscated Porsche
That'll learn 'em...

By Will Sturgeon

Published: Tuesday 30 March 2004

AOL is raffling off a Porsche Boxster sports car that it took as part-payment in a settlement awarded against a spammer last year.

The $47,000 car - a favourite with multimillionaire footballers - will be given away as a prize to one lucky AOL member as a "thank you for their co-operation in the fight against spam", according to the company.

Randall Boe, AOL's executive vice president and general counsel, said in a no-way-contrived statement: "AOL has always placed our members in the driver's seat when it comes to spam fighting and now we are going to put one of our members in the driver's seat of a spammer's sports car."

The statement went on to say that AOL is "revving-up [its] fight against spam". Despite the appalling puns, the internet giant is to be commended for its attempt to deter spammers.

"We see this as a great way to teach spammers a lesson and reward our members for their continued use of the 'Report Spam' button," added Boe.

The car is the result of a series of law suits filed last year by AOL. The company accepted the car as part-payment in settling with an unnamed spammer. However, it will not stop there. AOL is apparently more than happy to seize houses, boats and other luxury items bought with spammers' ill-gotten gains.

The car is a two-door cabriolet with a 3.2 litre, 250 horsepower engine. Or in spammer parlance: a 'huge penis extension' for the lucky winner.