Feds say it's the first US criminal case involving artificially inflated music streaming.

I am just impressed by the idea and execution. Just wow. Too bad he took it too far.

  • powerofm@lemmy.caEnglish
    591·
    2 months ago

    Definitely an abuse of the system, but I’m struggling to see where criminal law says you can’t make a bunch of fake accounts to listen to garbage music.

    • bdonvr@thelemmy.clubEnglish
      303·
      2 months ago

      In agreeing to be paid by music streaming platforms they almost certainly agreed not to do exactly this. Which makes it fraud.

    • Gamma@beehaw.orgEnglish
      16·
      2 months ago

      From justice.gov:

      SMITH, 52, of Cornelius, North Carolina, is charged with wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

  • DeltaTangoLima@reddrefuge.comEnglish
    50·
    2 months ago

    In a 2017 email to himself, Smith calculated that he could stream his songs 661,440 times daily, potentially earning $3,307.20 per day and up to $1.2 million annually.

    Great idea, but why would you email yourself about it?

    • veee@lemmy.caEnglish
      281·
      2 months ago

      I have a friend that I’ve tried to convince using a notes app, but he swears that emailing himself notes and to-do lists is more effective. He’s wrong, but to each their own.

      • DeltaTangoLima@reddrefuge.comEnglish
        10·
        2 months ago

        Oh, sure. I get that. Sending yourself reminders is absolutely understandable. Sending yourself documented evidence of your plans to defraud someone is entirely different.

        • theneverfox@pawb.socialEnglish
          2·
          2 months ago

          Recently, a bunch of people on tik tok found this “bug” in their banking app where you can write a bad check, then withdraw the funds before it clears… Then started crying about it when their balances updated

          Dude definitely thought he discovered a cool new life hack

        • veee@lemmy.caEnglish
          4·
          2 months ago

          I can definitely follow his logic, but there are better tools available.