“SPAMIS.COM/.ORG/.CC/.INFO”, a/k/a Robert Soloway, has continued to send out spam containing the text of my monthly column for eSecurity Planet. It was not sent by me. It was not sent with my permission or authorization.

And please don’t send me complaints, copies of the spam, etc. I’m getting enough as it is, thanks!

In fact, looking at the spams that I have personally received (yes, the twit is spamming me with my own article…), he’s using a network of “spam zombies” — virus-infected and hacked PCs that are hijacked to relay spam. It’s a sign that this guy is a pretty sophisticated criminal. I’m sure his mother is very proud.

According to the SpamHaus “Registry of Known Spam Operations” here’s his latest info:

Mr. Robert Soloway
1200 Western Avenue
98101 Seattle
Washington
Tel: +1 (206) 226-9558 (206)223-1270
email: nim@cyberservices.com

Robert Alan Soloway
SPAMIS, PO Box 1259, Seattle, WA 98111, USA
Fax: (206)260-2409 or (503)213-6416

As of Nov 6, 2004, Robert Soloway’s NIM/Newport Internet Marketing is an active corporate entity in Washington State. This corporate name was registered in WA in Dec, 2003. Soloway’s “corporation” is run out of his apartment at the Harbors Apartments in Seattle.
–
Washington State Dept of Revenue
State Business Records Database Detail

TAX REGISTRATION NUMBER:…6024226472
UBI:…………………..6024226472
LEGAL ENTITY:…………..NEWPORT INTERNET MARKETING CORP
DOING BUSINESS AS:………NIM CORPORATION

MAILING ADDRESS:
1200 WESTERN AVE APT 17E
SEATTLE, WA 98101-2964

BUSINESS LOCATION:
1200 WESTERN AVE STE 17-E
SEATTLE, WA 98101-0000

OWNER TYPE:…………….CORPORATION
ACCOUNT OPENED:…………12/01/2003
ACCOUNT CLOSED:…………OPEN
STD INDUSTRIAL CODE:…….5961

Have fun!

Hearty congratulations and much love goes out to my cousin (2nd cousin actually) Samuel Bennett, who just moments ago was named Florida State Teacher of the Year for 2006!

Sam (pictured to the right in his classroom) teaches Fifth Grade at Garner Elementary School in Winter Haven, Florida and was one of five finalists for the Florida Department of Education /Macy’s Teacher of the Year program. To read more about Sam and his amazing work, check out this article: “Polk Man Is Finalist For Teacher of Year.”

Cousin Sam — who began his career as a police officer (if I recall family lore correctly) and is an ordained minister — gave credit to God, his wife, and his parents, my Great Aunt Sue and Uncle Luke, according to the Orlando Sentinel:

Calling the award a “tremendous and humbling honor,” Bennett gave credit to God for instilling a love of teaching; and to his wife, Debbie, for being his best friend. He credited his mother with teaching him to look for the good in everyone and, when he finds it, to nurture it; and his father, who died in 1990, with tenacity.

Please join the rest of the Everett and Bennett clans in congratulating Sam and his family, and wishing him continued success as he uses this position as Teacher of the Year to encourage great people to take up teaching, and to encourage great teachers to become even better!

Update: Here’s the official FL Department of Education press release.

According to Russian news agency Interfax (reported via MosNews.com), notorious Russian spammer Vardan Kushnir was found beaten to death in his Moscow apartment yesterday.

It’s not exactly the sort of penalty you wish on even the most incorrigible of spammers, but there must have been something more going on here. Even in what, by many accounts, is a lawless and out-of-control Russia, it’s difficult to believe that people would be so infuriated by spams for English-language training courses (the main business of Mr. Kushnir, apparently) that they would beat someone to death. A nickel says we’ll learn later that there was some Russian mob connection… just you watch.

Thank goodness that I live in America, where the morons who have been blaming me for spamming them this past week (which, of course, I didn’t!!!), are content to simply send whiny emails.

Spammers at “SPAMIS.COM/.ORG” have been sending out an email message containing the text of an article I wrote. It was not sent by me; it was not sent with my permission or authorization. Complaints have been filed; it’s not necessary to complain to me… I’m not happy about this either.

Update: I’m told that the spam may have originated from Robert Soloway, a spammer who recently lost a court battle to Microsoft. The folks at About.com have some more info about Robert Soloway. All I know for certain is that the spam originated at a cable-modem connection by Shaw Cable.

PS: To whoever felt the need to leave me that ranty voicemail at my office, you need to switch to decaf, man…

I’m down with a cold for a few days… but I’ll be back in the saddle later this week. In the meantime, please try exploring some of the other blogs that I link to over on the left. There’s some good reading there!