Fella gets 2.5 years in the clink for coughing up cell numbers in $50m junk text message scam
Summary
Miao used software to generate a list of faked confirmation texts from those numbers, automatically opting them into Tattos expensive SMS subscriptions. In other words, Miao took peoples numbers, automatically signed them up for expensive monthly garbage texts without permission, and produced faked opt-in confirmation messages in an attempt to prove to telcos it was operating all above board. Goff pulled customer lists from his companys database, and handed them over to Miao so he could cram premium services, and charges, into folks phones and bills. As a result, prosecutors say, between 2011 and 2013, Americans were fed $50m in bogus charges to their phones, and Goff himself took home a $350,000 cut of the spoils, disguised as consulting fees from Tatto. "Christopher Goff conspired with others in an auto-subscribing scam that stole $50 million from unwitting consumers," said Geoffrey Berman, Manhattan US Attorney General, late last week.