Some Consumer Information Database Companies Allegedly Help Con Artists

The New York Times article about database company compilers of consumer information actively helping con artists was incredibly shocking. Great reporting and angle. Here's one example:

InfoUSA advertised lists of "Elderly Opportunity Seekers," 3.3 million older people "looking for ways to make money," and "Suffering Seniors," 4.7 million people with cancer or Alzheimer’s disease. "Oldies but Goodies" contained 500,000 gamblers over 55 years old, for 8.5 cents apiece. One list said: "These people are gullible. They want to believe that their luck can change."

According to the story, Wachovia Bank and database company InfoUSA (one of the major compilers, as I remember from my direct marketing days) kept "working with criminals even after executives were warned that they were aiding continuing crimes, according to government investigators."

I've got an idea. The executives can completely empty their pockets and reimburse the victims. I do hope some zealous prosecutor or class action attorney decides that this seems to be a case of collusion, where the companies and their executives directly profited from illegal activities. RICO, anybody?