AOL to dig for gold at home of spammer's parents

WASHINGTON (AP) — AOL thinks there might be gold buried on Peggy Greenbaum's property, and they plan to dig it up.

AOL won a $12.8 million judgment against the Massachusetts woman's son, Davis Hawke, last year. The company accused Hawke of violating anti-spam laws by sending unwanted e-mails to AOL subscribers. Hawke didn't show up in court, giving AOL a default judgment.

AOL now says it believes Hawke has stashed a fortune in gold and platinum bars, and it's in or near his mother's home. Greenbaum says her son wouldn't be “stupid enough” to do that. She says he's “long gone” and she doesn't know where.

She says the incident has humiliated the family, but AOL will “make fools of themselves” if they dig up her yard.

AOL has said it will try not to be obtrusive.