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☆ Meet WiFi Money: Wealthy Finance Influencers Who Infuriated Investors
▼ + stars: | 2024-05-19 | by ( Rob Price | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +26 min

The Texas couple were staring down more than $100,000 in debt, much of which they had poured into WiFi Money. Those who give their money to WiFi Money are often encouraged to sign up other people in return for a cut of their profits — and perhaps, one day, a chance to become part of the WiFi Money crew. As the money poured in, WiFi Money gained a patina of mainstream credibility. AdvertisementThrough WiFi Money, Moeller and Frederick had created a virtuous cycle of money and influence. The same month investors took WiFi Money to court over the stores, DBC announced it was closing down.

Persons: Alex Moeller, influencer, Jasmine Sadry, Joey Martin, Martin, Moeller, Chris Frederick, Casa Moeller Martinez, MentorCI, Kim Kardashians, Gary Vee, Uber, Etsy, Farnaz Ghaedipour, Frederick, Jay Gatsby, Scott Fitzgerald's, Brandon Celi, There's, Billy, Chris Casey, There's Todd Cahill, Liz Friesen, Tana Mongeau, Kardashian, —, James Ragano, BI Moeller, wouldn't, Kyle McDougal, Sadry, Kyncey, McDougal, hustlers, Kevin O'Leary, Jordan Belfort, Ronaldinho, Glenn Beck, I've, he'd, Daemon, I'm, they'd, It's, Chris Costello, Francis, Ashley, Costello, Gatsby, Casey, Avery Williamson, Victor Bermudez, DBC, They're, Instagram, Rolex Submariner Organizations: WiFi, Lamborghini, McLaren, Fox News, YouTube, Invest, Stanford University, PBS, BI, Social, Yahoo Finance, Business, Times, Piccadilly Circus, Fort, DMs, Kyncey Investments, Amazon, Kyncey, Investors, CNN, Fox Business, Big Tech, Florida Tropics Soccer Club, Royce, WiFi Money, Federal Trade Commission, WifiMoney, IRS, NFL, Dallas, Rolex Locations: Instagram, Mexico, Texas, Dallas, Quito, Ecuador, @amoeller, Florida, pecs, Maryland, Europe, Illinois, Mita, Burj, Fort Worth, dropshipping, Brazilian, New York City, ensconced, Minnesota, Los Angeles, Munich

☆ US court sentences Chinese citizen to prison for threatening person who promoted democracy in China
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-24 | by ( Rob Frehse | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

Xiaolei Wu, 26, who attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, was convicted in January of one count of cyberstalking and one count of interstate transmissions of threatening communication, prosecutors said. Wu is no longer enrolled as a student at Berklee College of Music, the school told CNN Wednesday. CNN previously reported that Wu allegedly sent threatening messages to a person who posted a flier on or near the college campus supporting Chinese democracy, according to the complaint. “Post more, I will chop your bastard hands off,” Wu reportedly said on WeChat, a Chinese messaging app. Charging documents allege Wu reported the person to the Chinese government and told them its representatives would “greet” their family members.

Persons: Xiaolei Wu, Wu, ” Wu, Joshua S, Levy, Wu’s, ” Levy, “ Mr, ” Organizations: CNN, US, Berklee College of Music, Federal Public, Office, “, United, People’s, Berklee, Department, Justice Locations: China, Massachusetts, Boston, People’s Republic of China

☆ 'Can I Tell You a Secret?': Where Matthew Hardy's victims are now
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-28 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

From 2009 to 2021, Matthew Hardy harassed at least 62 women, according to The Guardian, which produced a podcast of the same name that the series is based on. The Netflix docuseries features interviews with several of Hardy's victims, including Lia Hambly, Abby Furness, and Zoe Jade Hallam, who recall their harrowing experiences as a result of his cyberstalking. After Matthew was convicted in January 2022, many of the women affected were able to move on with their lives. Zoe Jade Hallam is a model and a mechanicIn 2018, Hardy started using Snapchat to harass Hallam. It was me that drew Matthew Hardy to him."

Persons: Matthew Hardy, Lia Hambly, Abby Furness, Zoe Jade Hallam, Matthew, Hardy, Hallam, Zoe, Lia Marie Hambly, Hambly, Lia's, Furness, I'd, Abby, Emma Bunton Organizations: Guardian, Netflix Locations: Furness

☆ 'Can I Tell You a Secret?': Where is Matthew Hardy now?
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-23 | by ( Eammon Jacobs | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

AdvertisementThe UK's worst cyberstalker is the focus of Netflix's latest true crime docuseries, "Can I Tell You a Secret." AdvertisementMatthew Hardy was convicted on five counts of cyberstalking in 2022After Anderson's lengthy investigation, Hardy was arrested in February 2020 and charged in March 2021. In October 2021, Hardy pleaded guilty to five counts of stalking involving fear of violence, and was sentenced to nine years in prison in January 2022. He's currently serving his sentence in a category B prison, according to the "Can I Tell You a Secret" podcast. "He has said to me, 'I don't want anything to do with social media ever again,'" she recalled.

Persons: Matthew Hardy, Hardy, Kevin Anderson of, He's, Steven Everett, Sara Haque, McGowan, Donna Hardy, he's, Matthew Organizations: Kevin Anderson of Cheshire Constabulary, Guardian Locations: cyberstalking

☆ What is catfishing and what can you do if you are catfished?
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-29 | by ( Sen Nguyen | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +16 min

In the US, romance scams resulting from catfishing have among the highest reported financial losses of internet crimes as a whole. A 2019 study found that young LGBTQ+ men in rural America experiencing catfishing on dating apps felt angry and fearful. She also emphasized the need to recognize today’s loneliness epidemic, which “leads people to perhaps be more susceptible to catfishing scams,” she said. Catfishing is not explicitly a crime, but the actions that often accompany catfishing, such as extortion for money, gifts or sexual images are crimes in many places. In the US, romance scams resulting from catfishing have among the highest reported financial losses of internet crimes as a whole.

Persons: CNN —, Nev Schulman, “ Megan ”, Schulman, Evita, scammers, Catfishing, Snapchat, ”, Ngo Minh Hieu, Chong, Hieu, Wang, “, It’s, Fangzhou Wang, ” Wang, Maryna, WeChat Organizations: CNN, Cybersmile Foundation, Federation University, Fraud Intelligence, INTERPOL, Research, US Federal Trade Commission, SMS, University of Texas, Arlington, Getty, Facebook, UNICEF Locations: Alaska, Australia, Singapore, Southeast Asia, France, Germany, India, cryptocurrency, Vietnamese, America, catfishing, China, Cybersecurity, Australian

☆ EBay to eliminate about 1,000 jobs, or 9% of full-time workforce
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-23 | by ( Jonathan Vanian | In | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

EBay said Tuesday that it plans to lay off 9% of the company's workforce, equal to about 1,000 full-time jobs, as the tech industry continues to downsize to start 2024. Iannone said the job cuts are necessary because eBay's "overall headcount and expenses have outpaced the growth of our business." Following hefty job cuts last year, tech companies have continued to eliminate positions in January as concerns about consumer and business spending persist. Regarding eBay's cuts, Iannone said he wants employees to work from home on Jan. 24, "to provide some space and privacy for these conversations." EBay shares dropped about 4% in November after the company provided fourth-quarter revenue guidance that trailed Wall Street estimates.

Persons: Jamie Iannone, Iannone, Jim Cramer Organizations: EBay, SAP, eBay, Wall Locations: downsize, Europe

☆ eBay must pay $3 million after its employees sent live spiders and cockroaches to a couple as part of a harassment campaign
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-11 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

eBay has agreed to pay a $3 million fine after its employees waged a harassment campaign against a Massachusetts couple. The employees sent live spiders, cockroaches, and a bloody pig mask to the couple. AdvertisementOnline retailer eBay Inc. will pay a $3 million fine to resolve criminal charges over a harassment campaign waged by employees who sent live spiders, cockroaches and other disturbing items to the home of a Massachusetts couple, according to court papers filed Thursday. The couple produced an online newsletter called EcommerceBytes that upset eBay executives with its coverage. Wenig, who stepped down as CEO in 2019, was not criminally charged in the case and has denied having any knowledge of the harassment campaign or ever telling anyone to do anything illegal.

Persons: —, David, Ina Steiner, Josh Levy, Devin Wenig, Wenig, James Baugh, Baugh, David Harville, Harville Organizations: eBay, Service, eBay Inc, Justice Department, EBay, Associated Press, Communist Party of Locations: Massachusetts, California, United States, Boston, Wenig

☆ An Airbnb host's son secretly filmed a guest in the shower, then tried to blackmail her into sending him a sex video: prosecutors
▼ + stars: | 2023-12-05 | by ( Grace Eliza Goodwin | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

A man living in his mother's Airbnb home secretly filmed a guest naked and then tried to blackmail her, prosecutors allege. Prosecutors say Strutz admitted to hiding a cell phone camera in a basket on the bathroom counter. AdvertisementThe son of an Airbnb host was sentenced to prison in connection to allegations that he secretly filmed a guest in the shower and tried to blackmail her into sending him an explicit video. The graphic messages continued for several months until Strutz sent her a nude image of herself from when she showered in the Airbnb bathroom, prosecutors allege. Strutz admitted he filmed the guest using a cell phone he had hidden in a basket on the bathroom counter, prosecutors allege in the complaint.

Persons: Kevin Strutz, Strutz, —, cyberstalking, Airbnb Organizations: Prosecutors, Service, Eastern, Eastern District of California, FBI, CBS News, Attorney's, Eastern District of Locations: Ceres , California, Eastern District, Strutz's, Airbnb, Eastern District of California

Assistant U.S. Attorney Adam Deitch said in court that Waithe's scheme victimized at least 50 women. Waithe worked at Northeastern from October 2018 to February 2019, when the university fired him, and had previously coached at Penn State University, Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Tennessee and Concordia University Chicago. Prosecutors said Waithe sent the women nude or semi-nude photos he had stolen and requested they send additional ones so he could conduct "reverse image searches." But, with the help of a hacker, Waithe stole nude pictures of one of the Northeastern athletes stored on her Snapchat account and cyberstalked her, Deitch said. While some ignored his emails, at least 17 women responded, sending him 350 nude or semi-nude photos, according to the indictment.U.S.

Persons: Steve Waithe, Adam Deitch, Deitch, Waithe, Prosecutors, Patti Saris, Jane Peachy, Nate Raymond, Will Dunham, Alexia Garamfalvi Organizations: BOSTON, Northeastern University, U.S, Northeastern, Penn State University , Illinois Institute of Technology, University of Tennessee, Concordia University Chicago, Prosecutors, Thomson Locations: Boston, Waithe, Northeastern, U.S

☆ US soldier arrested for allegedly cyberstalking local judges
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Haley Britzky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A US Army soldier at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, was arrested on Wednesday on charges of cyberstalking after allegedly making threatening social media posts targeting judges, including one involved in his divorce and child custody court proceedings. Cassidy Busbin, who court documents identify as an active-duty soldier at Fort Campbell, was arrested on Wednesday. in the court records, regarding a “peaceful armed protest” in Montgomery County for “FATHER’S RIGHTS” on November 17. The court documents also outline a series of allegations of abuse against romantic partners. also testified about that incident during Busbin’s divorce proceedings, according to the court documents.

Persons: cyberstalking, Cassidy Busbin, Fort Campbell, Busbin, Tony Hoefler, ” Busbin, “ Olita, Reid Poland, Kathryn Olita, Adrienne Fry, ”, Busbin’s, “, she’d, —, A.P, “ Busbin, it’s Organizations: CNN, US Army, Criminal, 101st Airborne, Facebook, Circuit, Army, Blanchfield, Community Hospital Locations: Fort Campbell , Kentucky, Fort, Montgomery County , Tennessee, Maryland, Montgomery County, Montgomery, Busbin, Poland

☆ AMC's CEO thought he was texting naughty photos to a former ballerina fling. Then everything went haywire.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Madeline Berg | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

This "resentment toward her abusers" may have led her to text Aron — a wealthy, powerful man in the public eye, her lawyers said. "Send me a naughty picture," Blackwood texted, a couple weeks into their flirty exchange. When he asked for photos in return, Blackwood sent him images of an unnamed Russian model that she pulled from Instagram. "Ceo scandal is apparently lucrative," Blackwood texted, posing as Brian. AdvertisementAdvertisement"I was shown some images and I was wondering if you're available to speak," the fake reporter texted Aron.

Persons: Adam Aron's, Mia, Aron, Sakoya Blackwood, Adam Aron, Matthew Belloni, Blackwood, She'd, Evander, —, Aron —, paramour, Koya Blackwood Fews, Lila Cohen, Brian, Blackwood texted, he'd, they'd, Brian —, He'd, Brian didn't, there's, he's, abt, Aron didn't, Blackwood didn't, texted Aron, hadn't, Jeff Bezos, Bezos, fiancée Lauren Sanchez —, Aron hasn't, hasn't, Taylor, unfazed, He's Organizations: of, United States, Court Southern District of, Hollywood, AMC, Evander Childs High School, —, Instagram, Arizona, National Enquirer, ppl, FBI, Twitter, Amazon Locations: Southern, of New York, Court Southern District of New York, Bronx, Jamaica, Russian, York City, California, Sinai, Aron

☆ AMC CEO says he was the victim of an extortion plot
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Jordan Valinsky | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —Adam Aron, the CEO of AMC Entertainment, admitted Thursday that he was a “victim of an elaborate criminal extortion” plot. On X, Aron continued that following a “vigorous federal criminal investigation,” the perpetrator was convicted this past summer. He also said that the incident was “entirely a personal matter” and that he informed the AMC’s board of directors, as well as reviewed the events with an independent outside counsel. Aron said that the “matter is closed,” and he remains the CEO of AMC. AMC’s board of directors said in a statement to CNN that it had “determined it was a personal matter, and considers the issue resolved.”

Persons: New York CNN — Adam Aron, “, Aron, Semafor, of New York, Sakoya Blackwood, wasn’t, Thursday’s, Blackwood, ” Organizations: New, New York CNN, AMC Entertainment, US, Office, Southern, of, CNN, AMC Locations: New York, of New

☆ Movie theater giant AMC's boss Adam Aron revealed as the mystery CEO who fell victim to a catfish blackmail scheme he called an 'elaborate criminal extortion'
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-12 | by ( Pete Syme | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

A woman was last year indicted after catfishing an anonymous CEO and threatening to release sexually explicit photos. Semafor reported Thursday that the CEO was Adam Aron, boss of movie theater giant AMC. Aron confirmed the report in a post on X, saying he was "the victim of an elaborate criminal extortion." Soon after Semafor reported that Aron was the victim in the case, he confirmed the news in a post on X. The following day, Blackwood then asked him to send sexually explicit photos, and he complied — including sending one of him with another woman — prosecutors said.

Persons: Semafor, Adam Aron, Aron, —, Blackwood, Mia Organizations: AMC, Service, Prosecutors, of New York Locations: Southern

☆ New York woman sentenced in 'catfish' extortion bid of CEO
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-20 | by ( Dan Mangan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +5 min

At her sentencing Wednesday, Blackwood was also ordered to serve three years of supervised release for the attempted shakedown, which spanned six months in 2022. A New York woman was sentenced to time already served in jail for cyberstalking in a case where she was accused of " catfishing " a mystery high-profile CEO of a publicly traded corporation. Prosecutors in a court filing said Blackwood tried to extort the victim by threatening to "falsely tell the world" that the man "has sex with a minor." Blackwood also ramped up pressure on the victim in late April 2022 by "using Twitter to tweet veiled threats at the Victim," prosecutors wrote. "For many months, the defendant kept the Victim suffering from the constant fear that his life would be ruined.

Persons: Furman, Blackwood, Jess Furman, Sakoya Blackwood, —, Blackwood's, Michael Tremonte, Tremonte, Ms Organizations: US Marshals Service, Manhattan Federal, Manhattan U.S, Bronx, Prosecutors, Harvard, CNBC Locations: Manhattan, United States, Jamaica, New York, Brooklyn, cyberstalking

☆ UK man pleads guilty to Twitter hack that compromised accounts of Joe Biden, Elon Musk
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( Ryan Browne | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

An image of new Twitter owner Elon Musk is seen surrounded by Twitter logos in this photo illustration in Warsaw, Poland on 08 November, 2022. LONDON — A U.K. man pleaded guilty to helping orchestrate a high-profile hack on the Twitter accounts of numerous celebrities and politicians including Elon Musk, Joe Biden and Kanye West. Combined, the charges carry a maximum sentence of 77 years, the Justice Department said. "O'Connor communicated with others regarding purchasing unauthorized access to a variety of Twitter accounts, including accounts associated with public figures around the world," the Justice Department said Wednesday. "A number of Twitter accounts targeted by O'Connor were subsequently transferred away from their rightful owners.

O'Connor pleaded guilty to charges including conspiring to commit computer intrusions, to commit wire fraud and to commit money laundering. O'Connor, who was extradited to the U.S. on April 26, will also forfeit more than $794,000 and pay restitution to victims, prosecutors said. Prosecutors said the schemes included gaining unauthorized access to social media accounts on Twitter in July 2020 as well as a TikTok account in August 2020. The July 2020 Twitter attack hijacked a variety of verified accounts, including those of then-Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden and Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) CEO Elon Musk, who now owns Twitter. The alleged hacker used the accounts to solicit digital currency, prompting Twitter to prevent some verified accounts from publishing messages for several hours until security could be restored.

☆ Supreme Court Debates Free-Speech Defense in Cyberstalker Case
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-19 | by ( Jess Bravin | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Singer-songwriter Coles Whalen performed for friends and family at an undisclosed location in March. Photo: Thomas Simonetti/The Washington Post/Getty ImagesWASHINGTON—Supreme Court justices on Wednesday questioned whether a Colorado stalking law violates the First Amendment because defendants can be convicted even if they didn’t intend to threaten victims with physical violence. The case was a textbook example of cyberstalking. Billy Counterman became obsessed with a Denver singer-songwriter, Coles Whalen, and in 2014 began texting her through Facebook Messenger, under the delusion that they were in a romantic relationship. The hundreds of messages, which kept coming even after she blocked Mr. Counterman and obtained a restraining order against him, were terrifying and drove her from performing in public, Ms. Whalen said.

☆ Biden's plea to lawmakers in rare op-ed: Unite to hold tech accountable
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-11 | by ( Lauren Feiner | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

"We need bipartisan action from Congress to hold Big Tech accountable," Biden wrote. Biden's call for bipartisanship on tech issues is notable since the split Congress will complicate the landscape for passing legislation in any domain. The decision to focus the op-ed on tech suggests it may be a rare area of hope for progress while working across the aisle. Biden focused on three key areas of tech legislation he hopes to see this Congress. Finally, Biden called for "fairer rules of the road" when it comes to competition in the tech sector.

☆ Woman accused of catfishing mystery CEO and threatening to release sexually explicit pics allegedly used 'multiple identities to target wealthy men'
▼ + stars: | 2022-09-02 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Blackwood allegedly catfished the CEO of a publicly trade company as part of an extortion ploy. She is accused of threatening to release explicit images and conversations in exchange for money. Sakoya Blackwood allegedly "used multiple online identities to target wealthy and high-profile men" starting in March 2022 at least, according to the DOJ and court documents. According to the DOJ, Blackwood "engaged in a campaign of harassment" against the CEO, which involved "sending numerous intimidating and threatening text messages." In addition to the CEO, several other affluent men were part of the catfishing and extortion scheme, the DOJ claimed.

☆ Transgender TikTok creators say the app's mysterious 'For You' page is a breeding ground for transphobia and targeted harassment
▼ + stars: | 2021-02-27 | by ( Connor Perrett | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +27 min

Brickham, a 38-year-old trans woman living in Florida, posted photos of her transition after seeing other trans creators do the same. But transgender creators say TikTok is an unwitting accelerator for transphobia and harassment. TikTok features — like duets, which allow users to respond to another user's videos — have also been a tool for harassers. Trans creators told Insider that the "For You" page allowed them to quickly find a community and support on the app. Creators told Insider that the transphobia they faced on TikTok was more intense than on other social-media platforms.

Persons: —, Chelsea Brickham, TikTok, Brickham, she'd, didn't, they'd, Madelyn Whitley, Whitley, Gen, we're, Aiden Mann, I've, Mann, Daniel Sinclair, Sinclair, ByteDance, There's, Trump, you've, Fletcher Furst, Furst, who've, Samuel, he'd, it's, Eric Han, Han, Dr, Ric Matthews, Matthews, Melissa Robinson, Brown, I'm, Jade Marie Eichelberger, Marie Eichelberger, Eichelberger, Chris Organizations: Service, Business, Chelsea, Washington Post, Trans, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Wired, City , University of London, Intercept, Australian, American Academy of Pediatrics, TikTokers, TikTok, New York Times Locations: Florida, TikTok, COVID, New York, France, Tennessee, China, Musical.ly, Alberta, Canada, Oregon, South Carolina, Black

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