So now, more than ever, everybody loves Amazon. But some may love it too much, to the point they’re fleecing the system. One Indiana couple sure did. An Amazon con couple receives prison sentence.
So between 2014-16, the Finans out of Indiana ripped Amazon off of over 1.2 million dollars worth of goods. Most of those were electronics. Furthermore, these electronics included Xboxes, smartwatches, tablets and GoPro cameras, among other items, like computer repair parts. Here is what they did. First, they honestly paid for the product. Then, they claimed it didn’t work. Often times, they got the second product for free. In most these cases, they didn’t even have to turn in the…ahem…”damaged” product. So now they have two working items.
But they didn’t stop there. They sold the products to?Danijel Glumac, for a ridiculously cheap price. Then, Glumac would sell them, some in public face to face. But in many cases, he hold them online, ironically, even on Amazon. The Finans made around $750,000 from this con. Glamac made around $500,000. Also, the Finans created many false identities on Amazon. That’s how they reported so many items damaged without anybody getting suspicious. But all three still got caught. Glumac made a plea deal and got two years in jail. The worst sentence came to the Amazon con couple. They each got over five years in prison.
Let this be a lesson to anybody. I’m not an Amazon fan. Many around our computer service shop are. Some of us aren’t. But Amazon didn’t get to where they are by being naive. So if you’re thinking about exploiting or abusing the system like this, don’t. They will catch you. They will prosecute you, then imprison you. Just ask the Finans and Danijel Glumac about that. Amazon products aren’t worth five years, or two years in prison. Do you still think it’s worth it?
So in Paris, there is a tech conference they call Viva Tech. One of the top speakers was the President of France. Let’s see how French President Emmanuel Macron talks technology.
So Marcon talked about about European regulations regarding the IT support and tech industry. He also talked about other issues facing tech. This included things like taxes, privacy, and cyber bullying and trolling. However, a big part of Marcon’s speech was about startups. He said IT service is critical to today’s France. Furthermore, he said tech startups alone brought almost $3 billion to his country. As recently as 2015, it was barely one billion.
But not all the news was good. Because France wants to create a European tax and impose it on major tech companies. They’re also urging other EU nations to do the same. This would create lots of revenue not just for France, but for every EU nation. Some are on board. But some others are not. He believes tech is key to creating jobs and a robust economy. Then he addressed the Tech for Good initiative. Here, he challenges tech companies to do good in the community. But he didn’t stop there. Marcon vowed to have the government check with these companies, to see if they really are doing good. He even wants there to be a Tech for Good Summit every year.
This is how French President Emmanuel Macron talks technology. Tech leaders like Mark Zuckerberg and Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella. Obviously, he wants France, and Europe to do well in technology. Plus, from what I’m reading, Europe is falling a little behind other tech savvy nations, like the US, China and Israel. However, something else strikes me here. Marcon seems to fight for tech privacy. Yet, he’s willing to follow tech companies around just to make sure they’re doing good. Does that make any sense?
So here’s a digital/tech few talk about: the coming cashless society. Do you think it’s a conspiracy theory? Then why is Japan working so hard to create cashless banks? But they’re not the only ones. Is Australia trying to go cashless?
Effective in 2019, the Australian government will bans cash transactions of more than $10,000. That means you won’t be able to buy anything more than $10,000 with cash. You’ll need a check, credit/debit card, or other for of payment. Basically, you’ll need a form of payment in which they can track you. Australian government leaders say this will combat tax evasion. They also say fight crime like drug dealing, terrorism and cyber robberies and attacks. We’ll see.
So most of us don’t walk around with $10,000 in cash buying stuff. But many businesses, even IT service ones, hate this decision. One man, who runs a security business, says 95% of his business is cash transactions bigger than $10,000. There are other businesses that claim they do millions of cash actions a month. So as you can imagine, they’re not happy about this either. However, on the other side, IT support leaders want this, and not just an Australia. Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey himself wants a day where Bitcoin is the global currency period.
But why am I talking about Australian technology in a Boston computer service shop? Because the cashless society movement isn’t just Australia’s, or Japan’s. In Australia, 32% of all transactions are done through cash. Here in the USA, that number is 37%. This includes little thing, like cups of coffee. India is so bent on digital currency that they’re banning 500 and 1,000 Rupee bills (that equals to $7 and $14 USD). The money scene is changing globally. Computer technology plays a huge role in that. Is Australia trying to go cashless? Maybe I’m asking the wrong question. Is the world trying to go cashless?
So IT support billionaire and Tesla CEO is under stress. In fact, on CBS This Morning, Elon Musk can’t go to sleep. But why?
First of all, Tesla is under a stressful period. In fact, it’s so bad Musk is sleeping on his car maker’s factory floor. Then, he says he can’t even go home to shower or sleep in his own bed. So why is Musk doing this? One reason is because he’s hard at work on his Model 3 car. On April 3, Tesla produced 2,020 Model 3 cars. However, their target is 2,500. In fact, he wants to make 5,000 Model 3 cars a week before too long. That’s a big jump in a short time. Here’s another reason Elon Musk can’t go to sleep. Because he’s a hands on CEO. He says he doesn’t believe in vacationing while his employees are working hard and suffering.
But between you and me, I think there are other reasons Elon Musk can’t go to sleep. He worries about other issues surroinding the IT service and computer tech industry. There’s this lingering Facebook scandal that won’t go away. A couple of weeks ago, he called out Facebook, and deleted them. In that interview, he called for regulation on Silicon Valley. Another concern of his is ‘fake news’ that seems to be plaguing the tech community. Between you and me, the most fake news you’ll find is on CNN and Fox News, but that’s just me. He touched on fake news in the CBS This Morning interview. Musk is weary as ever about AI/robot technology. In fact, he blames robots on the slowing down of his Model 3 car. Though Musk didn’t mention this, I think his dream of sending people to Mars is drawing heavy on his heart.
He didn’t say it, but he still believes the only way to save humanity is to send people to Mars. Is that the real reason Elon Musk can’t go to sleep? Speaking of sleeping, if you were Mark Zuckerberg right now, would you be able to go to sleep?
So yesterday, tragedy struck the You Tube headquarters in San Bruno, CA. A woman opened fire on You Tube’s main work campus. This forced hundreds of employees and managers to either flee the building or take cover under their desks. But who would do this? You Tube shooting: About the suspect.
So the suspect’s name was Nasim Aghdam. She was 39 years old and from San Diego, CA. I say ‘was’ because at the end of her shooting spree, she turned the gun on herself. Furthermore, we learn Ashdam was a You Tube’er. In fact, she had over 10,000 subscribers at one time. She used the name ‘Nasime Sabz’. On her channel, she did everything from Middle Eastern dancing and speaking to crusading for animal rights. She also promoted her vegan diet and lifestyle.
But according to reports, recently, You Tube stopped paying for her videos. This deeply cut into her primary income. Then, Aghdam complained You Tube added age restrictions and other filters. It angered her when these filters brought her viewership down. Aghdam’s father saw how upset she was. That’s why he got so worried when she went missing. In fact, the day before this tragedy, the father warned police she might go to San Bruno with with intentions. Nasim Aghdam’s page is no more. They deleted it immediately following the shooting. This tragedy hit the whole IT service and IT support community.
The You Tube shooting rampage injured three people. One is in critical condition, one in serious, and one is in fair condition. You Tube and their parent company, Google, assure they’re cooperation with authorities, and comfort those directly affected and their loved ones. This brings up You Tube headquarters’ security. In fact, CBS journalist said despite him having to get a badge, he still just walked through without a metal detector. But what about the suspect? We should never blame You Tube or Google for this heinous act. Nasim Aghadam is to blame. She is the only one who deserves blame. The fact she took her own life rather then face justice or the victims is a sign of a sociopathic coward. I do feel pity for Ashdam’s father, but this cowardly, murderous act forever tarnished whatever legacy Nasim Aghadam? tried to leave behind. Am I being too harsh here?
So it starts when Ben Taylor from Utah gets a Facebook message from Liberia, a small West African nation, asking for help. Most would dismiss this as a trick or scam. But Taylor replied, “How can I help?”.? Taylor wanted to see how they pulled these scams off. Then there is Joel. He’s the Liberian man who asked Ben Taylor for help. He asked for electronics. He would sell the electronics, then send some of the profits back. Still thinking it’s a scam, Ben sent a cheap camera, not expecting anything back. This is where it gets good.
Because Joel did keep his end of the bargain. Then Ben asked for pictures of Joel’s homeland. He made a book of Joel’s Liberia. Then, he made over $1,000 selling these books. Taylor promised Joel that $1,000, but with a catch. Ben made Joel promise to give half of it to charity. Once again, Joel proved Ben wrong. Because Joel send back proof that he did give $500 to charity. It gets better. Taylor, who claims he never left the US, went to Liberia and met Joel in person. This is a friendship that continues to this day and will probably continue for years to come.
Let me put a disclaimer out there. This isn’t an excuse to look to buy electronics from Africa. There are a lot of scams that originate from West Africa. In fact, several years back, someone at our Boston computer service shop got burned. Then why do I write about Facebook’s good news? Because we could use some. I report so much about malware, scams, rip-offs, wealth inequality, scandals, bullying, sextortion, etc. So it’s time to report on good news. It’s inspiring to see how a Facebook message can turn into a partnership and friendship around the world. Do you have any good tech news to share?
