DULLES, VA – America Online continues to lead the fight against spam and as a result, AOL members are increasingly enjoying a spam-free email experience. Today, AOL announced that spam is down more than 85% on the service, as measured by member referrals, and AOL's anti-spam filters are blocking more than 1.4 billion pieces of spam each day, as compared to a high of 2.4 billion messages blocked in a single day in 2003.

AOL also announced that it has recovered nearly $100,000 worth of gold bars and cash, as well as a fully-loaded 2003 Hummer H2, from a major spammer that AOL caught with the help of its members.

As a reward to AOL members, visitors to AOL.com and web users, the spammers’ ill-gotten loot is being given away through the “AOL Spammer's Gold Sweepstakes”, which starts today. Additionally, the Company said it would donate tens of thousands of dollars worth of high-end computer equipment seized from this spammer to local public schools and school systems in Northern Virginia.

The gold, cash and the Hummer were seized as part of the first lawsuit filed by AOL under the federal CAN-SPAM Act of 2003, and aided by AOL members who have used the “Report Spam” button to help AOL anti-spam, digital detectives investigate and snare one of the country's most prolific spam gangs.

In addition to these assets, AOL has also obtained a $13 million judgment in the case against the remaining members of the spam gang.

“The safety and security of our members is Job No. 1 at AOL, and that means taking aggressive action against spammers and scammers. I am delighted that our efforts are paying off, literally, with the seizure of these assets and the sweepstakes,” said Jon Miller, Chairman and CEO of America Online. “Today, we're putting the brakes on spammers and celebrating our gold standard spam protections for the AOL service and the AIM Mail product at AOL.com. Our hard work in fighting spam is paying off in another way as well -- since November 2003 when spam was at its peak, we've achieved a dramatic and hugely beneficial decline in the amount of spam reaching our members' email boxes.”

The company attributes this success to its multi-pronged approach in fighting the scourge of spam, which includes a combination of software tools, filtering technology, public policy, litigation and enforcement, and industry partnership.

Sweepstakes Details
This Sweepstakes begins August 10 and runs through August 19. AOL members can enter the sweepstakes at AOL Keyword: Spammer's Sweepstakes; non-members can enter at http://aolhummer.onlinepromo.com. Entrants will have a chance to win daily cash prizes as well as the Grand Prize -- a Hummer H2 and approximately $85,000 in gold bars and cash. Each day throughout the promotion period, participants may gain one additional entry in the Grand Prize drawing and one (1) entry in the daily "spammer cash" drawing ($1,000 each day) by returning to the site to answer the special “AOL Spammer's Gold” question for that day that focuses on security and safety issues. Those that participate each day throughout the 10-day promotion period will receive an Official AOL Spam Patrol certificate.

The yellow 2003 Hummer H2 is a premium sport utility vehicle, with a 6.0 liter V8 engine, 4-speed automatic transmission, AWD, antilock 4-wheel disc brakes, skid plates, OnStar equipped, power and heated leather front seats, split folding second-row seat, sunroof, chrome appearance package, 6-CD changer, and 17-inch wheels. In addition, the trunk of the car contains various products from Time Warner brands, including HBO (The Sopranos and Entourage DVDs), Warner Brothers (movies, games, plush toys and more), CNN (travel bag and binoculars), Time Inc. (a variety of books), New Line Cinema (Lord of the Rings I, II & III), as well as items from Cartoon Network, Turner Broadcasting, WBTV, and others.

The gold bullion is comprised of 33 gold bars each weighing one ounce, and nine gold coins. The gold is valued at nearly $20,000, and there is an additional $75,000 in actual hard cash seized from the spam gang.

***EDITOR'S NOTE: For more information about the sweepstakes, the ‘ back story’ of how AOL seized the spammer's loot, and to see pictures of the actual Hummer H2, gold bars and cash seized, go to http://corp.aol.com/press/media_spammersloot.shtml.

About America Online, Inc.
America Online, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Time Warner Inc (NYSE: TWX). Based in Dulles, Virginia, America Online is the world's leader in interactive services, Web brands, Internet technologies and e-commerce services.