# This spam has to be illegal - where can I report it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [September 29, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559 "2003-09-29T22:07:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/1 "2003-09-29T22:07:21Z")
I just got this spam email: > [@](#): > > Spy on Anyone by > sending them an Email-Greeting Card! > uy63653kh3fca 6joj6c1tmmj > Spy Software records their emails, Hotmail, Yahoo, Outlook, ACTUAL Computer Passwords, Chats, Keystrokes, PLUS MORE… > > 3rs9l235wwc cof7h8542oe8zd > Check up on your SPOUSE, KIDS, or EMPLOYEES! > Follow This Link To Begin… > 9p0n7w1oyv5x pzsln72xcvnfc Is there anyway to report this to the FBI or someone? ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/2 "2003-09-29T22:32:02Z")
IANAL, I don’t think this is illegal. If your spouse and/or children are using your computer, you can certainly monitor what they are doing. If you are an employer, you can monitor what your employees are doing. Now if you put it on anyone else’s computer, then you’ll have legal problems. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 10:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/3 "2003-09-29T22:39:22Z")
But can’t you send one of these emails to anyone and get their passwords and email accounts? This is why I think it has to be illegal. Paging **Bricker** , would **Bricker** please pick up the white courtesy phone… ---
**Author:** ![Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d26b3c/32.png) [@Mr.Blue\_Sky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Blue_Sky)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 10:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/4 "2003-09-29T22:45:50Z")
:smack: I missed that first part. Yep, THAT part is illegal. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/5 "2003-09-29T23:03:40Z")
It sounds like it’s some sort of keylogger. They’re not illegal (and do have legitimate uses). And I don’t think actually gathering the data is illegal, either (though it may violate various policies). ---
**Author:** ![London\_Calling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@London\_Calling](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/London_Calling)\ **Post date:** [September 29, 2003, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/6 "2003-09-29T23:44:25Z")
What country is it from? ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 2:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/7 "2003-09-30T02:07:12Z")
It doesn’t answer your question but this software was discussed in [this](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=210938) thread. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/8 "2003-09-30T02:26:36Z")
In the US, a keylogger, depending on how it is deployed, may be considered a wiretap. _That_ is illegal, unless you’ve got a fancy piece o’ paper from someone wearing nice black robes. ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 2:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/9 "2003-09-30T02:50:14Z")
Thanks all for the input. Still, I’m wondering if there’s a place where I can report this, since I believe it is implied that it is for illegal purposes. ---
**Author:** ![DarrenS](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/977dab/32.png) [@DarrenS](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DarrenS)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/10 "2003-09-30T03:28:40Z")
You could always forward it to the FTC - but don’t hold your breath for a response. Here’s an article discussing it, with a link to forward the spam. [http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,55972,00.html](http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,55972,00.html) ---
**Author:** ![Huerta88](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/82dd89/32.png) [@Huerta88](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Huerta88)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/11 "2003-09-30T04:11:38Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DarrenS \* > \*\*You could always forward it to the FTC - but don’t hold your breath for a response. > > Here’s an article discussing it, with a link to forward the spam. > > [http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,55972,00.html](http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,55972,00.html) \*\* [FTC slam] Especially as the FTC seems remarkably unimaginative in their laments that (in the absence of specific anti-spam laws) they can’t get at most spam because it’s not illegal or deceptive. It would not take a particularly bright or aggressive lawyer to argue that forging the source of the e-mail (often by spoofing some innocent party’s domain or address), forging header/routing information, and offering bogus unsubscribe links, all in aid of persuading someone to buy something (probably also fraudulent) from you (all the while costing the recipient, his ISP, and others to spend time and money conveying your spam) is something akin to (or equal to) wire fraud. See, e.g.: [http://www.federalcrimes.com/flashSite/index.cfm?page=wirefraud#anchor0](http://www.federalcrimes.com/flashSite/index.cfm?page=wirefraud#anchor0) [/slight FTC slam] ---
**Author:** ![Lord\_Ashtar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ea924/32.png) [@Lord\_Ashtar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lord_Ashtar)\ **Post date:** [September 30, 2003, 4:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-spam-has-to-be-illegal-where-can-i-report-it/204559/12 "2003-09-30T04:52:19Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by DarrenS \* > \*\*You could always forward it to the FTC - but don’t hold your breath for a response. > > Here’s an article discussing it, with a link to forward the spam. > > [http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,55972,00.html](http://www.wired.com/news/politics/0,1283,55972,00.html) \*\* Ah, that’s what I was looking for. Thank you.