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.

  • Abnorc@lemm.ee
    link
    fedilink
    English
    arrow-up
    17
    arrow-down
    1
    ·
    4 months ago

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