FTC Seeks Contempt Order Against MySpace Page Jackers

January 23, 2008. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) filed a civil contempt motion [3 pages in PDF] and memorandum in support [30 pages in PDF] in U.S. District Court (DNH) in FTC v. Odysseus Marketing and Walter Rines, alleging violation of a previously issued permanent injunction that bars defendants and others from employing a deceptive online advertising scheme that page jacks MySpace web pages, and then mouse traps internet users who visit page jacked pages.

For an explanation of page jacking and mouse trapping, see the FTC's memorandum, TLJ story titled "How the ``Page Jacking´´ and ``Mouse Trapping´´ Web Scam Works", September 24, 1999, and TLJ story titled "FTC Obtains Injunction of Page Jacking and Mouse Trapping Scam", September 24, 1999.

The FTC also alleges violation of the injunction's ban on phishing practices and downloading of spyware to users' computers. The FTC also alleges failure to procure a performance bond.

The motion alleges that Walter Rines, Online Turbo Merchant, Inc., and Sanford Wallace are in contempt of the District Court's October 24, 2006, stipulated order [28 pages in PDF]. The FTC seeks a civil contempt order, and a fine of $555,850.04, the alleged proceeds from the enjoined advertising scheme.

See also, proposed order [4 pages in PDF] and FTC release.

This case is FTC v. Odysseus Marketing, Inc. and Walter Rines, U.S. District Court for the District of New Hampshire, D.C. No. 05-CV-330-SM, Judge Stephen MacAuliffe presiding.