Category: Frauds and Swindling

A.I. Music Fraudster Who Drew Millions in Royalties Is Sentenced to 18 Months

The New York Times – Music:
Prosecutors say Michael Smith flooded music-streaming platforms with bots that repeatedly streamed his A.I.-generated music, earning him as much as $8 million.
Under Trump, Commodity Futures Trading Commission Scales Back Enforcement, Worrying Farmers

The New York Times – Business:
The fate of two cotton brokers highlights how the Commodity Futures Trading Commission has scaled back its regulatory actions not just for crypto cases but also for the kinds of cases it has long policed.
Elizabeth Holmes to Transfer to Halfway House in August 2027

The New York Times – Business:
The founder of the blood-testing start-up Theranos was sentenced to 11 years in prison for fraud and had been serving time at a minimum-security federal prison in Texas.
Trump Officials Eject 750,000 From Obamacare Markets, Claiming Fraud

The New York Times – Business:
Vice President JD Vance said the measure would save the government $2.2 billion.
Trump Officials Eject 750,000 From Obamacare Markets, Claiming Fraud

The New York Times – Business:
Vice President JD Vance said the measure would save the government $2.2 billion.
Help! We Canceled a Vacation Rental 2 Years Ago. Where’s Our $13,000?

The New York Times – Travel:
In July 2024, a couple used Booking.com to reserve two apartments in Hawaii, but quickly changed their minds. Getting a refund was no day at the beach.
Hunter Biden’s ‘Laptop’ Crypto Coin Plummets Upon Launching

The New York Times – Business:
The president’s son portrayed his memecoin as a symbol of redemption. Critics denounced it as hypocrisy.
A Mortgage Servicer Sent a Letter About an Address Change. Was It Deed Theft?

The New York Times – Business:
A letter arrived in the mail from PNC Bank about an address change on a mortgage account. Was a deed theft scheme in process?
Several Big Brokerages Leave Customer Accounts Open to Theft, Senators Say

The New York Times – Business:
Senators Ron Wyden and Elizabeth Warren, ranking Democrats on the Finance and Banking Committees, have urged regulators to require brokerages to provide stronger customer protections.
How Wall St. Profits When Personal Injury Lawsuits Pay Out

The New York Times – Business:
Personal injury cases have exploded, in number and magnitude, funded by companies betting on a win — and offering investors a piece of the action.
Treasury Scales Back Scrutiny of U.S. Shell Companies

The New York Times – Business:
The Trump administration will not enforce reporting requirements of the 2021 Corporate Transparency Act, which was intended to crack down on money laundering.
Justice Dept. Charges Doctor in $95 Million Skin Substitute Fraud Scheme

The New York Times – Business:
Dr. Stephen Dubin, a wound care doctor in Nevada, is accused of applying unneeded, expensive wound coverings to seniors. He used the profits to buy yachts, the department said.