MOSCOW, Oct. 27 (UPI) -- Russian police say they've filed a criminal case against a Moscow businessman reputed to be the world's biggest Internet spammer.
The prosecution of Igor Gusev, accused of sending spam e-mails for fake pharmaceutical products to users in the United States, Canada and other countries, is the first against a spammer in Russia, RIA Novosti reported Wednesday.
Gusev is accused of sending the spam through a partner program, Glavmed.com, which reportedly has made $120 million since 2007 and brought Gusev $2 million in revenues.
A spam Web site called spamdot.biz, reportedly run by Glavmed.com, was shut down last year by Russia's Federal Security Service.
Moscow police said Gusev is believed to be currently outside Russia.
Spam amounts to 20 percent of Russia's market for Internet advertising, while spam e-mails are estimated to account for up to 70 percent of all e-mails sent, Russia's Association of Electronic Communications said.
