Man arrested for sending 2.2 billion spam emails in Tokyo

Police on Friday said they have arrested a man for sending 2.2 billion spam emails with fake sender information. Yuki Shiina, 25, was arrested for allegedly sending nine spam emails, which were ads for gambling and dating services, with fake sender information on Nov 13, 2007, after an Internet service provider reported to police that he was sending massive amount of emails last September.

According to police investigations, the suspect bought 600,000 email addresses for 100,000 yen through the Internet and he sent spam emails from his PC at home. He earned 2 million yen from advertisers, police said. Police believe he has sent 2.2 billion spam emails since May 2006. The suspect told police he didn't think he would be arrested.

A law introduced in 2002 and amended in 2004 prohibits sending spam emails with fake sender information.