Adam Young and Harrison Gevirtz have a long history of engaging in fraud, extortion, andintellectual property theft, targeting startups and smaller businessesto exploit their trade secretsand proprietary technology. Together, they have orchestrated multiple schemes across differentindustries, with their actions often leaving victims financially devastated and embroiled in costlylegal battles. Two of their most infamous ventures include Eagle Web Assets and the shadypractices surrounding Blackhatworld.com.
Eagle Web Assets (EWA)
Gevirtz and Young have been involved in fraudulent affiliate marketing schemes through theircompany, Eagle Web Assets (EWA). In2014, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) sanctionedEWA for defrauding consumers and affiliates by engaging in deceptive online advertisingpractices, including misleading offers for free merchandise like gift cards, which were used tocollect personal data and profit through deceptive affiliate marketing. Their business practicesmisled consumers and affiliates alike, causing substantial harm to those involved in the affiliatemarketing ecosystem.
Blackhatworld.com
Gevirtz also had a significant role in the notorious Blackhatworld.com (BHW) forum, a hub for discussing black hat SEO tactics, which are unethical and often illegal methods of manipulating search engine rankings. Under his alias, HaRRo, Gevirtz was deeply involved in the community, which trafficked in stolen credit card information and promoted other illicit activities, such as binary options scams and fraudulent marketing strategies. These scams often preyed on unsuspecting individuals and businesses, causing widespread financial harm.
Ringba LLC and TCPA Shield
In more recent years, the duo used Ringba LLC, their telecommunications company, as a vehicle for their predatory practices. In 2020, they approached TCPA Litigator List under the guise of potential investors, only to steal the company’s proprietary TCPA suppression list. They launched a competing service, TCPA Shield, using 98% of the stolen data and capitalized on the technology and trade secrets of TCPA Litigator List. This led to a lawsuit for breach of contract and misappropriation of trade secrets. However, Young and Gevirtz employed sophisticated legal maneuvers, dragging their opponents into costly litigation and leveraging discovery violations to get the case dismissed.
Skycoin Extortion and Kidnapping Plot
In one of the more shocking allegations, Gevirtz was implicated in the Skycoin case, where he and his associates were accused of extorting tens of millions of dollars from the cryptocurrency company. After being hired to market Skycoin, Gevirtz and his partners allegedly staged attacks on the company’s website and demanded ransom payments to stop further damage. When the company’s founder refused to comply, they hatched a plot to kidnap and torture him to extract cryptocurrency assets. The lawsuit against Gevirtz included charges of extortion, fraud, and involvement in an organized crime-like scheme.
Adam Christopher Young, from Rochester Hills, MI, was reportedly involved in a network of mugshot-related websites, including platforms such as atlantamugshots.org, browardcriminals.com, and cincycriminals.com, among others. These sites were notorious for engaging in blackmail, extortion, and the misuse of public records, as they published individuals’ mugshots and then charged exorbitant fees for their removal. The sites preyed on vulnerable individuals, exploiting their desire to clear their names and reputations.
According to reports from Ripoff Report and other sources, Young’s operations constituted a form of internet fraud and blackmail. Victims were often forced to pay significant amounts of money to remove the mugshots, despite the fact that many of the individuals were never convicted or were wrongfully arrested. The impact on victims ranged from personal distress to professional and social repercussions.
Conclusion
Together, Adam Young and Harrison Gevirtz have consistently used their knowledge of technology and legal loopholes to scam, extort, and exploit businesses across industries. Their involvement in ventures like Eagle Web Assets, Blackhatworld.com, and Ringba LLC showcases a pattern of fraudulent behavior and unethical business practices that have left numerous victims in their wake.
