LWD - Spam's Empire - A Cautionary Tale

EdisonRex submitted the following "

Introduction

This is a tale of intrigue, subterfuge, revenge, counter revenge, a questionable business model, online identity theft, cooperation, a set of strategic miscalculations, and almost classic tragedy as the truth comes out and Internet-style justice prevails. It is a long story, so it will be written in installments. There are so many aspects to it, they need chapters of their own. Hopefully the author can keep up with the events which are still unfolding. We here at LittleWhiteDog and LittleBlackDog sincerely hope that the person this is dedicated to can keep up as well.

The author is a middle aged dad whose work life involves lots of technology, whose home life revolves around family, and whose social life is dedicated to a community of really great people out there on the Internet. The integrity of the community is a big part of the story, because it shows how assumptions can lead to miscalculations, and why spammers should never, ever spam a technical web community, even if it does use phpBB.

If someone came to you with a business model consisting of a text based “real time” multi-user online strategy game which would be offered for free, incorporate features found in online graphical games such as commerce, alliances, and conflicts, work in multiple languages and offer incentives to its players to bring in more players by giving them online currency in the game, if you were still awake at the end of the pitch, you might be mildly interested, but you might also think “how 1983 Sim City” and quietly show them the door.

If the same person came to you and had that business model, but also incorporated a strategy of stealing online identities to serve as good names to advertise via spamming technologies, what would you say to that? Even more, how about stealing multiple identities, synthesizing an astroturf conversation in which these stolen online identities appear to have a conversation? Sounds like a sound business plan, right? It's made a lot of people a lot of money before, but it isn't new. Plus, if you had any ethics, you would probably not like the idea of stealing identities and spamming websites. Of course, you need ethics to think that way.

But suppose you are young, you have an idea for something, you have friends who will help you, and everyone is willing to look the other way for money?

The Original Spamshot

BBSpam is nothing new, just another one of those annoying technologies developed by the lowest form of Internet life, the spammer. We don't have to discuss spam itself, there are many good people devoted to seeking out the cowards who anonymously fill our inboxes with offers for V 1 /- 6 R A and fake Rolex watches, and the rest of the sludge that clogs our bandwidth. As a moderator and admin it is one of those chores that can be at times, depressing, at times, inspiring. Of late, yet another attempt at subtle spamming has been noted on (at least) phpBB boards. It involves memberlist spamming, in which a new member will register and leave an URL to the spammer site, some innocuous text to fill into the profile, and for the longest time, these had no posts. As many forum admins know, these seem to be multiplying. Perhaps because a lot of forums are not set up well, or don't have good oversight. It's a big job keeping a forum clear of spam.

So when a LonelyK first registered it on February 26, 2006, with a URL to http://www.stars-empire.com in the Website field, it was worth a check. Checking the site, it was odd, because to a forum like this it was interesting, potentially, and knowing nothing, it was a tough call. A quick note to the other moderators was made and the registration was left alone for the night.

Nobody was surprised when, the next day, at 2:13am, LonelyK posted the now familiar First Run (we haven't found an earlier one yet).

Welcome to our new online space strategy game for those passionate of fantasy and stars. You can become a great trader, a famous warrior, or a notorious diplomat, well-known for your cruelty or generosity, a pirate, or a Hero who defends those weak and oppressed. But most of all you may become the GREAT EMPEROR and legends and songs will be composed in your honor … You have a chance if you only dare. You just have to make one little step to the outer space, a step to Stars' Empire! -

Along with yet another link to the Star's Empire site.

Sometimes the muse takes us. Sometimes we take the muse. Being technical and creative, and getting so much spam, we've taken to occasionally editing their posts, just to mess up the search engines, and also to leave messages for the spammers. It is against our forum rules to spam, and we have well defined rules. Obviously the spambots don't read so well. It is an amusing, if futile, gesture against what we usually think are faceless scripts run by even more faceless script kiddies for nefarious reasons.

We left the post, and actually forgot about the post for two weeks. Until it was revived.

Next chapter – My nick gets nicked "


Telling it like it is...