An alleged scammer has been arrested under suspicion that he used AI to create a wild number of fake bands — and fake music to go with them — and faking untold streams with more bots to earn millions in ill-gotten revenue.

In a press release, the Department of Justice announced that investigators have arrested 52-year-old North Carolina man Michael Smith, who has been charged with a purportedly seven-year scheme that involved using his real-life music skills to make more than $10 million in royalties.

Indicted on three counts involving money laundering and wire fraud, the Charlotte-area man faces a maximum of 20 years per charge.

  • 14th_cylon@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    2
    arrow-down
    6
    ·
    2 months ago

    Where do you live and how much money do you have? If you have more than me by any chance, I would like to steal some from you, I hope that ok with you.

    • BigFatNips@sh.itjust.works
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      9
      arrow-down
      3
      ·
      2 months ago

      That is not okay with me and is not a contradiction either. I am nowhere near rich. Are you getting paid to deepthroat the boot or do you just enjoy it?

      • 14th_cylon@lemm.ee
        link
        fedilink
        English
        arrow-up
        2
        arrow-down
        2
        ·
        edit-2
        2 months ago

        I am nowhere near rich.

        You have the internet and some kind of computer, which means you are more rich than lot of other people on earth. Does that mean all of them can steal from you, because you are rich? Or are you just a piece of shit trying to justify why it is ok for you to steal, hoping for protection from others at the same time?

        Are you getting paid to deepthroat the boot or do you just enjoy it?

        I am just teasing idiots for fun. But if you knew someone who would pay for this, don’t hesitate to let me know.