Amazon.com is determined to crack down on and eliminate e-mail forgeries, also known as "spoofing" or "phishing" that affect the company.

On Tuesday, September 28, 2004, Amazon.com and Microsoft Corporation filed a joint lawsuit in federal court in Seattle against deceptive online marketers who send forged e-mails made to look as though they came from Amazon.com. In addition, Amazon.com filed three lawsuits in Washington State Superior Court for King County in Seattle against several unidentified defendants who send e-mails forged to look as though they came from Amazon.com with the intent to steal credit card information or other personal financial information from the recipients. Through these lawsuits, Amazon.com seeks to restrain these defendants from sending e-mail forgeries falsely labeled as coming from Amazon.com. Amazon.com also seeks punitive damages in order to deter others from similarly fraudulent behavior.

For more details, you can read our Press Release. The complaints are also available here:

United States District Court, Western District of Washington:

Amazon.com, Inc. and Microsoft Corporation v. Gold Disk Canada, Inc. Eric Head, Matthew Head, and Barry Head d/b/a "Leads Canada" and "Infinite Technologies," et al., Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle.

King County Superior Court

Amazon.com, Inc. v. John Does 1-20 d/b/a update-information.us, et al., Superior Court of the State of Washington for King County, Seattle.

Amazon.com, Inc. v. John Does 1-20 d/b/a spamming-stoper.com, et al., Superior Court of the State of Washington for King County, Seattle.

Amazon.com, Inc. v. John Does 1-20 d/b/a auctions-amazon-fraudprotection.s5.com., Superior Court of the State of Washington for King County, Seattle.

On Monday, August 25, 2003, Amazon.com filed 11 lawsuits in the United States and Canada against deceptive online marketers who forge e-mail to make it look as though it is from Amazon.com. The status of these lawsuits is as follows:

District of Arizona

Amazon.com, Inc. v. Royal Responder, Inc.; James "Jay" Unzicker, et al., Federal District Court for the District of Arizona in Phoenix.

Motion for Default Judgment against Mr. Unzicker pending.

Northern District of California

Amazon.com, Inc. v. Daniel Byron Black, et al., Federal District Court for the Northern District of California in San Francisco.

Confidential settlement obtained.

Southern District of Florida

Amazon.com, Inc. v. Rockin Time Holdings, Inc., et al., Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida, in Miami.

Defendant filed for bankruptcy; settling with bankruptcy estate.

Amazon.com, Inc. v. Edward Davidson, et al., Federal District Court for the Southern District of Florida in Miami.

Case dismissed after repeated attempts to locate and serve Mr. Davidson failed.

Southern District of New York

Amazon.com, Inc. v. E.B.A. Wholesale Corp. (d/b/a Cyebye.com), Federal District Court for the Southern District of New York.

Confidential settlement obtained.

Western District of Washington

Amazon.com, Inc. v. John Does 1-20 d/b/a healthproductsnow.net, Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle.

Identified and named Jennifer Murray as a defendant. Ms. Murray moved for a stay in the proceedings following her May 2004 indictment by the Virginia Attorney General under Virginia's anti-spam law.

Amazon.com, Inc. v. Cyberpower Pty, Ltd., et al., Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle.

Identified and named Leo Radvinsky as a defendant. Discovery continues.

Amazon.com, Inc. v. John Does 1-20, d/b/a cheapfilter.com, testfilters.net, filtercable.net, filtercable.com, filterppv.com, Federal District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle.

Identified and named Blake Tsai as a defendant. Confidential settlement obtained.

Eastern District of Wisconsin

Amazon.com, Inc. v. John Does 1-20, Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

Unable to locate a defendant despite extensive third party discovery. Case voluntarily dismissed by Amazon.com.

Amazon.com, Inc. v. Matrix Consulting Group, LLC, et al., Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Wisconsin.

An order of default was obtained after the defendant failed to respond to the Complaint. A motion for default judgment is pending.

Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Toronto, Canada

Amazon.com, Inc. v. 1505820 Ontario Inc., c.o.b. Natural Grains Deli and Catering (Jsuati.com), Ontario Superior Court of Justice, Toronto, Canada.

The case was voluntarily dismissed by Amazon.com.

To find out more about phishing and spoofing, including how to report a phishing e-mail you received, visit our other Help pages:

• Identifying Phishing or Spoofed E-mails
• Safety and Security Tips