5,500 Copycat Web Addresses Capture Computers and Mousetrap Surfers

A cyberscammer who used more than 5,500 copycat Web addresses to divert surfers from their intended Internet destinations to one of his sites, and hold them captive while he pelted their screens with a barrage of ads, was charged by the Federal Trade Commission with violating federal laws. At the request of the FTC, a U.S. District Court enjoined his activities pending further order of the court. The FTC will seek a court order to force the defendant to give up his ill-gotten gains.

"Schemes that capture consumers and hold them at sites against their will while exposing Internet users, including children, to solicitations for gambling, psychics, lotteries, and pornography must be stopped," said Timothy J. Muris, Chairman of the FTC. "In addition to violating the trademark rights of legitimate Website owners, the defendant may have placed employees in peril by exposing them to sexually explicit sites and gambling sites on the job, in violation of company policies. With more than 63 previous law suits against him for the identical practices, we believe the court will shut down the defendant's schemes permanently."

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