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
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          3 months ago

          Is stealing okey just when you steal from others, or are you also okey with others stealing from you?

            • 14th_cylon@lemm.ee
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              3 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
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                3 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
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                  3 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.

            • Abnorc@lemm.ee
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              3 months ago

              Where do we draw the line for “rich people?” You can’t just have a system where you can hurt and steal as much as you want from rich people. What you’re describing is closer to a revolution, and carrying that idea to its conclusion usually involves a ton of bloodshed and putting new people in power who are just as bad.

              • BigFatNips@sh.itjust.works
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                3 months ago

                You’re right, because they shouldn’t exist at all. No rich people, no need to draw a line. Thanks for making this so simple!

                • 14th_cylon@lemm.ee
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                  3 months ago

                  No rich people, no need to draw a line.

                  If you want to deny rich people existence, you have to define what rich means, so there is pretty clear need to draw a line.

                  See, you cant even deliver your stupid thiefy argument correctly.

                  Thanks for making this so simple!

                  They didn’t make it simple, they just showed you that you are so simple that you can’t comprehend any kind of at least slightly complex topic.

                  Don’t worry about it, go back to your young communist lego or something.

      • Abnorc@lemm.ee
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        3 months ago

        Yeah I have no sympathy for advertisers, but this seems like it’s pretty clearly fraud.