Alan Ralsky (c. 1945–2021[1]) was a convicted American fraudster, best known for his activities as a spammer.
He claimed that he was a legitimate business that complied with all laws,[2] but was convicted of spamming and other fraudulent activities in June 2009.
Ralsky apparently began his spamming career in 1996, when his licenses to sell insurance were revoked in Michigan and Illinois.
[3] Hundreds of Slashdot readers then searched the Internet for advertising mailing lists and free catalogs and signed him up for them.
[4] In a Detroit Free Press article on December 6, 2002, he is quoted as saying, "They've signed me up for every advertising campaign and mailing list there is.