Microsoft & Pfizer File Lawsuits against Viagra Spammers

Microsoft, world's largest computer company, and Pfizer, world's largest drug manufacturer, have partnered against spammers who are nuisance to the cyber world as they block Internet access and cause huge inconvenience to regular computer users every day.

Both the companies revealed on July 23, 2009 that they had given a total of 17 petitions in the court against people who had been involved in the sale and distribution of erectile dysfunction drug Viagra.

The software giant had earlier sued spammers, but this is its first instance when it has collaborated with a nanotechnology firm.

Using advanced and highly skilled techniques, cyber criminals make their spam e-mails complicated and genuine as they have come from Pfizer. Many people who purchase drugs under the influence of spam actually misconceive that they have made transaction with a genuine and legal organization but in reality, they have agreed to buy from unlicensed and illegal firm.

One of Pfizer's lawyers said that majority of consumers were unfamiliar to the fact that they had bought the illegally manufactured Viagra.

The companies have said that they filed the case in Washington and New York after seven months long investigation wherein they had tracked and identified two most prominent groups involved in selling and distribution of imitated version of the popular drug along with spammers who were promoting the drug.

Pfizer is said to have filed 12 lawsuits against online pharmacies and spammers while Microsoft filed only five lawsuits. Majority of defendants are targeted by only one lawsuit. However, two websites - E-Pharmacy Direct and CanadianPharmacy - faced the lawsuits filed by Pfizer and Microsoft.

Apart from E-Pharmacy Direct and CanadianPharmacy, the lawsuits also target 10 other Internet pharmacies such as cheapviagrastore.com and half-price-viagra.com. Microsoft filed three lawsuits against spammers promoting other online pharmacies known as EzyDrugStore.com, Discount RX and Virtual RX.

It is estimated that nearly 25% of the global spam e-mails are based on Viagra. Security experts have suggested that the best way to combat with these websites is to educate people about the dangers of replying to spam mails. In fact, legal procedure to shut down these websites consumes too much time and in the meantime new websites come in forefront.

» SPAMfighter News - 06-08-2009

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