Verizon Files Lawsuit Against Alleged SMS Spammer

Press Release - June 8, 2007

America’s second largest cell phone carrier, Verizon Wireless, filed a lawsuit against Nevada-based I-VEST Global Corporation earlier this week, in an ongoing effort to protect its customers from SMS spam.

I-VEST allegedly sent more than 12-million unsolicited text messages to Verizon cell phone users, offering “information” about the stocks and real estate. Most of these messages were caught by Verizon’s spam filters, but approximately 5,000 slipped through the cracks and were delivered to customers’ handsets.

“While in this case, we were able to block most of the messages from reaching our customers’ handsets, even one unwanted text message is one too many,” commented Verizon vice president and general counsel, Steven E. Zipperstein. “Verizon Wireless is committed to using our legal and technical resources to the fullest extent on behalf of our customers to uncover and stop the companies and individuals that engage in wireless spam.”

Verizon is seeking a permanent injunction against I-VEST, as well as monetary damages.

In addition to annoying customers, Verizon says that the presence of SMS spam, which is often sent in high volumes over short periods of time, can delay the delivery of legitimate text messages.