eBay caught stalking couple who wrote critical reviews

[Alamo]

6 eBay Executives And Employees Charged With Sending Threats, Bloody Pig Mask To Natick Couple

U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling said the eBay employees’ harassment included sending the couple “disturbing deliveries” that included a bloody pig mask, a box of live cockroaches, and a funeral wreath. The employees also allegedly sent anonymous threatening messages and traveled to Massachusetts to conduct “covert surveillance” of the victims.

...

“These deliveries included fly larvae and live spiders, a box of live cockroaches, a sympathy wreath on the occasion of the death of a loved one, a book of advice on how to survive the death of a spouse, pornography mailed to their next door neighbors but in the couple’s names, Halloween masks featuring the face of the bloody pig, and the pig fetus which was ordered, but after an inquiry by the supplier, thankfully, wasn’t ever sent,” Lelling said

.


The targeted couple wrote an online ecommerce newsletter that was critical of eBay.

 

[Hatin Since 87]

Careful. Now you’re on their list


Edit: To all employees of eBay that are reading this, I have taken no part in criticizing your poor business model, but if you feel the need to send pornography I will reluctantly accept it.

 

[maxwelhse]

I realize this isn't intended to be a "how to" article, but this one is pretty good:

pornography mailed to their next door neighbors but in the couple’s names

I'd be more inclined to send them my bills and hope they don't notice.

 

[KellyinAvon]

Beam me up, there's no intelligent life here. HMOG!!! What is wrong with people??!!

 

[JettaKnight]

Beam me up, there's no intelligent life here. HMOG!!! What is wrong with people??!!

If you think that's terrible, might I suggest: "Noah, get the boat"

 

[Alamo]

Beam me up, there's no intelligent life here. HMOG!!! What is wrong with people??!!

And these were not low level flunkies.

 

[Alamo]

More detail here: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/all/fo...o-wrote-critical-newsletter-articles-n1231075

Prosecutors said the plan was two-fold. First, the eBay members allegedly harassed the couple who published the newsletter with online deliveries at all times of the day and night and sent threatening messages. Then, the eBay team would contact the couple so they could proclaim that eBay noticed the harassment and offered to help them get out of the threatening environment eBay itself created.

Prosecutors called this the “White Knight Strategy.”
"In essence, the plan was for eBay to arrive to 'rescue' the Victims from the very harassment that the defendants and their co-conspirators had themselves created in order to earn the Victims’ good will," the prosecutors wrote in criminal information filed in court.

These were allegedly adults. And one of them was a former police captain.

They got caught when the couple. they were targeting noticed four of them near the couple's house and reported it to police. Four of the dolts had been staking out the couples' home and were about to break into the garage and install GPS trackers when they were noticed.

 

[ditcherman]

While this isn't the hugest deal ever, it sure fits right in with the rest of 2020!

 

[maxwelhse]

Four of the dolts had been staking out the couples' home and were about to break into the garage and install GPS trackers when they were noticed.

What in the actual F...

This story is now beyond hard to believe. Does it have a 4/1 publication date?

 

[DeadeyeChrista'sdad]

And some people wonder why I just flat don't use eBay anymore.

 

[Alamo]

Update:

7th former eBay staffer charged in cyberstalking campaign against editor of newsletter

This is the second former cop (both captains) from Santa Clara that has been charged in this episode.

 

[Expat]

I wonder what the two former police captains used to do with the authority of law on their side?

 

[Alamo]

I wonder what the two former police captains used to do with the authority of law on their side?

After the arrest of the first one the City of Santa Clara announced that it was launching a third party investigation (possibly code for "city bucks for my lawyer friends") into the captain's time with the SCPD. I believe they noted there were no disciplinary marks on his record. I would guess they will go the same route with this other former captain.

But it is hard to believe they walked the straight and narrow for years and years and then suddenly launched a scheme like this...