Tech scammer who fooled Cisco, Microsoft and Lenovo out of millions jailed for more than seven years A scammer who convinced some of the world's biggest tech businesses to send him replacement kit has been sentenced to seven years and eight months in the US prison system. Justin David May, 31, used stolen hardware serial numbers, a plethora of fake websites and online identities, social engineering tactics, and a network of …
Will the affected companies leave the existing warranty protocols in place, or will they tweak things further, like forensically analyzing photographs of purportedly faulty/broken equipment serial numbers?
Either way, the honest customer will suffer as there will now be extra hoops to jump through, as well as those who sit with the equipment whose serial numbers was used in this sort of scam...
Most probably you will be required to send in the faulty piece of kit/hardware in first for them to assess before they will send you out a replacement, causing long downtime issues.
Far from condoning Mr. May's actions, I cannot help but to feel sorry for the chap.
He was evidently careless/stupid, which lead to his finally being discovered, apprehended and sentenced.
To seven years in prison with the added bonus of a stern public condemnation from US attorneys office, no less. (!)
Makes me wonder just how many years the likes (*) of Mr. May, serving as board members ie: CEO, CFO, CIO, etc. at corporations such as Intel, Microsoft, Cisco, Lenovo, Hewlett Packard, Sun Microsystems, Dell (the list is long but you get the idea) should get for the countless millions of times they have, through dubious marketing, commercial or manufacturing practises, scam (and have scammed) their customers for collectively mind bending amounts of money.
Every year.
Just sayin' ...
O.
(*) a category of people or things distinguished by some common characteristic or quality
I've sent APC at least 75 claims for their infamous power strip recall involving more than 15,000,000 units. Despite following proper procedure involving taking/sending closeup scans of each unit, individually as determined by their cryptic serial numbering system to determine eligibility, we've received exactly ZERO replacements.
There's a good chance this guy is master sociopath who knows how to play and control people, as well as being a crook. When he gets out in 7 years, maybe he can open a straight business helping people like you. You could be his first customer - assuming you are still waiting.
When they calculate the damage, they take the maximum possible undiscounted list prices no sane person or company would buy for. And of course the guy sold on Ebay for a tiny fraction of the stated amount. Same approach as when they report drug busts.
“Through the hard work and collaborative efforts of the FBI and IRS, this sentencing sends the message to those who seek to make a profit through fraud and deception, that this conduct bears significant consequences.”
I don't think the message sent is being received by the crims. Every case has the prosecutor saying the same thing. Maybe keel-hauling would send a stronger message?
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