Attorney General James Announces Groundbreaking Settlement With Sellers Of Fake Followers And “Likes” On Social Media

Settlement is First in the Country to Find that Selling Fake Followers and “Likes” Is Illegal Deception and that Fake Activity Using Stolen Identities Is Illegal Impersonation

  Attorney General Letitia James announced a precedent-setting settlement over the sale of fake followers, “likes,” and views on social media platforms, including Twitter and YouTube, using fake activity from false accounts. The settlement prohibits Devumi LLC and related companies (“Devumi”) from engaging in any of the same misconduct going forward. This settlement marks the first finding by a law enforcement agency that selling fake social media engagement and using stolen identities to engage in online activity is illegal.   

“Bots and other fake accounts have been running rampant on social media platforms, often stealing real people’s identities to carry out fraud,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “As people and companies like Devumi continue to make a quick buck by lying to honest Americans, my office will continue to find and stop anyone who sells online deception. With this settlement, we are sending a clear message that anyone profiting off of deception and impersonation is breaking the law and will be held accountable.”    

The fake followers, “likes,” and other activity that Devumi sold came from computer-operated accounts (“bot accounts”) or by one person pretending to be many other people (“sock-puppet accounts”). Such accounts, found on social media platforms including Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, SoundCloud, and Pinterest, pretended to express genuine opinions of real people, when they actually reflected false, paid-for activity aimed at deceiving online audiences and the public. Some activity Devumi sold came from fake accounts that copied real people’s social media pictures and profiles without the knowledge or consent of the person whose identity had been copied.   

Devumi ceased operations in mid-2018, shortly after the commencement of the Attorney General’s investigation and related publicity caused a major decline in its sales.   

The Attorney General’s findings on Devumi are as follows:  

Devumi LLC and related companies owned by German Calas, Jr. – including DisruptX Inc.; Social Bull Inc.; and Bytion Inc. (collectively, “Devumi”) – sold fake followers, “likes,” views and other forms of online endorsement and activity to users of social media platforms. Devumi supplied the fraudulent activity using bot and sock-puppet accounts. These bot and sock-puppet accounts falsely pretended to express the genuine positive opinions of real people. In some instances, Devumi supplied fake accounts that copied real people’s social media profiles without consent, including their name and picture.  

In addition, Devumi sold endorsements from social media influencers without disclosing that the influencers had been paid for their recommendations. This is especially troubling when considering that the opinions of influencers can have particularly strong influence over the reputation and sales for any product, company, service or person they endorse. 

These business practices deceived and attempted to affect the decision-making of social media audiences, including: other platform users’ decisions about what content merits their own attention; consumers’ decisions about what to buy; advertisers’ decisions about whom to sponsor; and the decisions by policymakers, voters, and journalists about which people and policies have public support.    

Devumi’s practices deceived some of the company’s own customers who mistakenly believed they were paying for authentic endorsements, while many other Devumi customers knew they were buying fake activity and endorsements. Devumi also deceived the social media platforms, which have policies prohibiting fake activity.    

Attorney General James And Governor Cuomo Announce Investigation Into Apple Facetime Privacy Breach

To Report Complaints Related to FaceTime Bug, Call 1-800-697-1220

  Attorney General Letitia James and Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced an investigation into Apple’s failure to warn consumers about the FaceTime bug and slow response to addressing the issue. The bug jeopardized the privacy of consumers in New York by allowing users to receive audio and video from the device of the person they are calling even before the person has accepted or rejected the call.  

“New Yorkers shouldn’t have to choose between their private communications and their privacy rights,” said Attorney General Letitia James. “This FaceTime breach is a serious threat to the security and privacy of the millions of New Yorkers who have put their trust in Apple and its products over the years. My office will be conducting a thorough investigation into Apple’s response to the situation, and will evaluate the company’s actions in relation to the laws set forth by the State of New York. We must use every tool at our disposal to ensure that consumers are always protected.”   

“New Yorkers deserve to know that their phones are safe and cannot be used against them,” Governor Cuomo said. “In the wake of this egregious bug that put the privacy of New Yorkers at risk, I am calling on the Attorney General to investigate this serious consumer rights issue. We need a full accounting of the facts to confirm businesses are abiding by New York consumer protection laws and to help make sure this type of privacy breach does not happen again.”  

As part of the investigation, the Department of State’s Division of Consumer Protection is accepting consumer complaints related to the FaceTime bug. The helpline 1-800-697-1220 is available Monday to Friday from 8:30am to 4:30pm.  

Reports indicate that the bug was raised with Apple by a consumer more than a week before it was shared widely in the media and the company took action to disable the affected feature of the app until it releases a fix. 

On Monday, Governor Cuomo issued a consumer alert about the bug and advised FaceTime users to temporarily disable the app until Apple issues a fix.  

15 ALLEGED GANG MEMBERS INDICTED FOR GUN VIOLENCE IN CLAREMONT/MORRISANIA NEIGHBORHOOD

“280 Gangsta Crips” Charged in Ten Attempted Murders; Most of the Shootings Occurred Near A Junior High School

  Bronx District Attorney Darcel D. Clark and Police Commissioner James P. O’Neill today announced that 15 people have been indicted on charges related to numerous shootings in the Concourse neighborhood in a wave of retaliation against rival gangs. Leaders of the “280 Gangsta Crips” face first-degree Conspiracy to commit murder for using boys to carry out shootings. 

 District Attorney Clark said, “This case is the epitome of gang culture - violence, retaliation, the “Don’t Snitch” credo, the recruitment of kids to commit crimes - that turns our neighborhoods into battle zones. Some of the gunfire happened around a Junior High School, even in the playground of the school. One shooting occurred on a Sunday morning, when a family with young children ran down the block and crouched against a building in terror. The shootings have to stop. The cooperation has to start. We will continue to work with our NYPD partners and the community to stem the violence in the 44th Precinct and anywhere in the Bronx where gang members think they hold sway.”

 Commissioner O’Neill said, “With violence and disorder reduced to historically low levels in many New York City neighborhoods, the NYPD and our law-enforcement partners have further strengthened our laser-like focus on gang and crew activity in our highest crime-rate communities. We are relentless in precisely dismantling these groups, particularly in the Bronx, where residents' quality of life has been adversely affected for far too long. Assaults, shootings, and other associated gang behavior will never by tolerated by the people we serve. I thank and commend the members of our Gun Violence Suppression Division, the 44th Precinct Detective Squad, and the Bronx District Attorney's Office for removing these 15 individuals from our streets and bringing forth a very strong conspiracy case.”

 The 60-count indictment includes charges of Conspiracy, Attempted Murder, Assault, Gang Assault, Criminal Possession of a Weapon, and Reckless Endangerment. Nine of the defendants were arrested on Tuesday, January 29, 2019 and arraigned before Bronx Supreme Court Justice Steven Barrett. They are due back in court on March 4, 2019. Three other defendants are already incarcerated and three others are not yet apprehended. If convicted of the top count of first-degree Conspiracy, seven defendants face a minimum of 15-25 years to a maximum of life in prison.

 According to the investigation by the NYPD Gun Violence Suppression Unit dubbed “Operation Dead Heat,” the defendants engaged in violent acts in the area from East 167th Street to East 170th Street between Morris and Clay Avenues, from December 2014 to May 2018. Much of the violence was directed toward “6 Wild,” a set of the Bloods gang, after one member murdered Christopher Duran, nicknamed Joppy, a 14-year-old member of 280 Crips. He was shot to death on May 22, 2015 on East 167th Street and Sheridan Avenue as he walked to school in the morning. The conspiracy continued after another 280 member, Joshua Simpson, was fatally stabbed on June 28, 2018.

 The defendants allegedly conspired to commit two non-fatal shootings, seven incidents of shots fired, and one stabbing. Several shootings occurred near Junior High School 22 on Morris Avenue and East 167th Street. In one incident, on Sunday morning, May 27, 2018, shots were fired at a 6 Wild member at East 167th Street and Teller Avenue. Surveillance video of the area shows a family—including a woman pushing a baby in a stroller—fleeing.

 At one point in the summer of 2017, it is alleged that defendant Ashley Ramirez told members of the gang, “280 needs to get better at shooting.” On Facebook, she directed members to “cold crush” their rivals.

 Evidence includes video surveillance of several of the incidents.

 District Attorney Clark thanked NYPD Detectives Brian Martin, Thomas Woulfe, Adam Landesberg, and Lieutenant Paul Prendergast of the Gun Violence Suppression Unit for their work on the investigation. She also thanked the 42nd Precinct Detective Squad and the 44th Precinct Detective Squad, specifically Detective Brian Hennessey, and the 44th Precinct Patrol Officers for their assistance.

DEFENDANTS ARRESTED 

Quaduan James, 28 

Ashley Ramirez, 26 

Raymond Bello, 20 

Andres Abreu, 19 

Carlos Perez, 20 

Marlon Figueroa, 21 

David Aguero, 17 

Omar Barnes, 17 

ALREADY INCARCERATED 

Kwesi Hosier, 27 

Jamel Greene, 23 

Christopher Hatfield, 27 

NOT YET APPREHENDED 

Kurt Scott, 29 

Jesus Perez, 25 

Anton Pye, 23

An indictment is an accusatory instrument and is not proof of a defendant’s guilt

Relay for Life Bronx Kickoff

American Cancer Society Relay for Life Bronx 2019 Leadership Team Pictured Above 

(left to right) - Ms. Nitisha Moore- ACS Community Manager, Ms. Rose Rullan, Mr. Jamie Sanders, Mr. Jose Luis Riviera- Chairman, Ms.  Yesenia Vazquez- Co Chair, Ms. Tanya Carrion, and Mr. Daniel Silva.

It was an exciting evening of getting to know each other, and have a good time while beating Cancer.  Awards were given out to several people who have survived having cancer, and there was a good time for everyone.

American Cancer Society Relay for Life Bronx 2019 Leadership Team - Ms. Tanya Carrion, Community Ambassador shows off some of the promotions from the Relay For Life Bronx Kickoff.

The Relay For Life of the Bronx fundraising Run/Walk will Benefit Cancer Research and local programs. The event will take place on June 1, 2019 at the Bay Plaza Mall from 4 - 10 PM.

for more information go to www.acsdetermination.org/bayplazaask

49th Precinct Council Meeting

  Last night the 49th Precinct Council held its meeting at the Morris Park Community Association on Bronxdale Avenue.

The agenda included the President report by Mr. Joe Thompson.

The Commanding Officer Captain Andrew Natiw's report.

Cop of the month award to Police Officer Humberto Reyes, for getting back a hijacked car, while arresting the perpetrator.

Monthly Crime Prevention Tips - Police officer Tyrone Mederos.

Neighborhood reports from around the 49th precinct.

The Public Gallery by residents who voiced complaints and opinions.

ENOUGH IS ENOUGH: DINOWITZ APPLAUDS ASSEMBLY ON PASSING LANDMARK GUN REFORM PACKAGE

The gun reform package passed by both chambers of the legislature includes red flag legislation, prohibition of arming teachers, ban on bump stocks, and more.

  There have been almost 2,000 mass shooting incidents in the United States since New York passed the SAFE Act following the Sandy Hook tragedy in December 2012,[1] inspiring nationwide protests and calls to action for widespread gun reforms from legislators such as Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz. On Tuesday, the New York State legislature approved a package of new regulations on firearms which are expected to be signed into law by the Governor. The legislative package passed includes two high-priority bills which had previously passed the Assembly regarding prohibition of “bump stocks” which circumvent regulations on automatic weapons and the establishment of extreme risk protection orders which are commonly referred to as “red flag” orders.

The legislation passed Tuesday accomplishes the following goals:

· Establish extreme risk protection orders via temporary court-issued orders of protection for persons believed to pose a severe threat of harm, such as the Parkland, FL school shooter

· Prohibit devices that modify firearms to allow for rapid-firing, as was used in the 2017 Las Vegas shooting

· Prevent schools from arming classroom teachers with weapons

· Extend background check periods to 30 days, closing the “Charleston Loophole”

· Establish a statewide municipal gun buyback program

· Ensure out-of-state citizens with homes in NY are subject to the same background check of mental health records as New Yorkers

Assemblyman Jeffrey Dinowitz said: “Washington DC, Charleston, Roseburg, San Bernardino, Orlando, Las Vegas, Sutherland Springs, Parkland, Thousand Oaks, Pittsburgh, and too many others: We have said ‘Never Again’ too many times. Despite New York having some of the strongest gun control laws in the nation, loopholes and technological advances have laid bare our need to do more. After years of various legislative proposals being blocked by quislings of the NRA in the (now) State Senate minority, I am incredibly proud that we were able to reestablish New York’s rightful place in setting the national tone on how to combat gun violence. The Assembly has long led the way on gun control, and this package demonstrates our determination to continue fighting for safe communities.”

[1] “After Sandy Hook, we said never again. And then we let ____  mass shootings happen.” German Lopez and Kavya Sukumar, Vox Magazine. Updated January 27, 2019, Accessed January 28, 2019. https://www.vox.com/a/mass-shootings-america-sandy-hook-gun-violence

Engel, House Dems Reintroduce Paycheck Fairness Act

  Congressman Eliot Engel and House Democrats have reintroduced H.R.7, the Paycheck Fairness Act, legislation that would build on previous laws to close the pay gap and ensure equal pay for equal work.  

Ten years after President Obama made the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act the first bill he signed into law, Democrats are building on that progress with this critical legislation to unlock women’s full economic potential, empower families and grow the economy.

“We made great progress with the Lilly Ledbetter Act in 2009, which was the first bill President Obama signed into law. Now that Democrats have retaken the House, we’re making sure equal pay for equal work is a top priority again,” Engel said. “If women and men do the same job, they should get the same pay. It’s unfortunate that in 2019 we still need to say this obvious truth, but we do. Equal pay for equal work will also result in a much stronger economy and greater stability for workers and their families across the board. We need paycheck fairness and we need it now.”