Back in February authorities accused Christopher Kennedy of creating <strong>Saucekit</strong>, a "cookie stuffing" program designed to target <strong>eBay</strong> which allowed users of the program to earn affiliate commissions illegally. <strong>Kennedy just pleaded guilty to a charge of Wire Fraud and is awaiting sentencing. The wire fraud conviction carries a possible sentence of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.</strong>
More at CBS News: <strong>Man Guilty In eBay 'Cookie-Stuffing' Fraud</strong>
cbs5.com/technology/ebay.cookie.stuffing.2.1699313.html
Allegedly Kennedy sold <strong>Saucekit</strong> from January through November of last year, despite receiving a cease and desist letter from <strong>eBay</strong>. The court papers also allege that Kennedy once boasted in a post on the Blackhatworld forum, that one of his clients had earned almost $17,000 in a two-month span. Evidently a lot of the case was based on information shared in public on that forum.
If you bought the illegal Saucekit program you could be in trouble too as "FBI allegedly seized his customer list and are making enquirys" according to the story below at syndk8. I've heard A LOT of affiliates in forums talk about Saucekit, but I didn't realize what it was. If you were even involved in conversations about it at any forums you could be investigated, although I hear that some forums have been at work to try to get rid of posts that discussed this program.
<strong>FOLKS, the FBI DOES read forums and use them for evidence</strong>. I've had the FBI contact me more than once about a thread I was involved in at an un-named forum where I speculated someone was involved in fraudulent activity. Turns out that company was being investigated by the FBI and they wanted me to give them more insight into how that company was committing the fraud. More about the Kennedy case below.
<strong>Cookie-stuffing is ILLEGAL folks!</strong>
Other cookie-stuffing charges are still pending in a 2 year old case eBay has filed against Digital Point Solutions and Kessler's Flying Circus. See this post:
<strong><a href="http://affiliate-blogs.5staraffiliateprograms.com/1640/ebay-sues-high-profile-affiliate-for-cookie-stuffing-and-fraud.html">eBay Sues High Profile Affiliate for Cookie Stuffing and Fraud</a></strong>
More info about the original bust in February:
<strong></strong><strong><a href="http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/02/feds-bust-cookie-stuffing-code-seller/">Crime and Security - Online Feds Bust Cookie-Stuffing Code Seller</a></strong>
<strong><a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=122273&nid=111049">Developer Accused Of Bilking eBay With Cookie-Stuffing Program</a></strong>
More at CBS News: <strong>Man Guilty In eBay 'Cookie-Stuffing' Fraud</strong>
cbs5.com/technology/ebay.cookie.stuffing.2.1699313.html
Allegedly Kennedy sold <strong>Saucekit</strong> from January through November of last year, despite receiving a cease and desist letter from <strong>eBay</strong>. The court papers also allege that Kennedy once boasted in a post on the Blackhatworld forum, that one of his clients had earned almost $17,000 in a two-month span. Evidently a lot of the case was based on information shared in public on that forum.
If you bought the illegal Saucekit program you could be in trouble too as "FBI allegedly seized his customer list and are making enquirys" according to the story below at syndk8. I've heard A LOT of affiliates in forums talk about Saucekit, but I didn't realize what it was. If you were even involved in conversations about it at any forums you could be investigated, although I hear that some forums have been at work to try to get rid of posts that discussed this program.
<strong>FOLKS, the FBI DOES read forums and use them for evidence</strong>. I've had the FBI contact me more than once about a thread I was involved in at an un-named forum where I speculated someone was involved in fraudulent activity. Turns out that company was being investigated by the FBI and they wanted me to give them more insight into how that company was committing the fraud. More about the Kennedy case below.
<strong>Cookie-stuffing is ILLEGAL folks!</strong>
Other cookie-stuffing charges are still pending in a 2 year old case eBay has filed against Digital Point Solutions and Kessler's Flying Circus. See this post:
<strong><a href="http://affiliate-blogs.5staraffiliateprograms.com/1640/ebay-sues-high-profile-affiliate-for-cookie-stuffing-and-fraud.html">eBay Sues High Profile Affiliate for Cookie Stuffing and Fraud</a></strong>
More info about the original bust in February:
<strong></strong><strong><a href="http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2010/02/feds-bust-cookie-stuffing-code-seller/">Crime and Security - Online Feds Bust Cookie-Stuffing Code Seller</a></strong>
<strong><a href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&art_aid=122273&nid=111049">Developer Accused Of Bilking eBay With Cookie-Stuffing Program</a></strong>
