Pfizer and Microsoft Unite to Combat International Spam Rings

Strategic Insights -

The pharmaceutical giant Pfizer and technology powerhouse Microsoft have launched a coordinated effort to tackle the growing issue of international spam rings selling counterfeit versions of Pfizer's Viagra. The joint strategy, announced on Thursday, involves 17 legal actions targeting spammers and pharmacy Web-site operators across the globe. The investigation, which lasted seven months, revealed a complex network of transactions stretching from New York to India and back to a warehouse in New Jersey. The move aims to not only shut down these operations but also educate consumers on safe online purchasing practices and deter future spammers.

Key Takeaways:

  • Pfizer and Microsoft have jointly filed 17 legal actions against international spam rings selling counterfeit versions of Pfizer's Viagra.
  • The joint strategy involves targeting both spammers and pharmacy Web-site operators simultaneously, an unprecedented approach in combating online crime.
  • The investigation, which lasted seven months, revealed a complex network of transactions spanning multiple countries, including the United States, India, and Canada.
  • Pfizer has taken action against 30 sites allegedly selling bogus Viagra in the past, with 29 of those sites ceasing operations and one case pending.
  • Microsoft has filed 94 lawsuits in the United States against spammers since early 2003 and blocks 3.2 billion spam messages every day.
  • The joint effort aims to draw consumer attention to safe online drug purchasing practices and send a message to other spammers that they will be pursued.
  • The companies are seeking subpoena powers to gather more information about the spammers and pharmacy Web-site operators.
  • Pfizer has filed domain-name complaints against 10 sites allegedly using Viagra's name without authorization.

Statistics:

  • 3.2 billion spam messages blocked by Microsoft every day
  • 94 lawsuits filed by Microsoft against spammers in the United States since early 2003
  • 20% of men older than 35 who buy erectile dysfunction drugs do so on the Internet, according to a national company survey of 676 men
  • 2/3 of those men fail to check whether the site from which they are buying is legitimate

Sources:

  • The Record, "Pfizer and Microsoft join forces to tackle spammers" by Lewis Krauskopf, 2005
  • Pfizer press release
  • Microsoft press release
  • NorthJersey.com article, "Pfizer and Microsoft Unite to Tackle Spam" by Lewis Krauskopf
  • Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News article, "Pfizer, Microsoft Unite to Tackle Spam" by Lewis Krauskopf