Developer charged with cookie scam on eBay

EBay was the victim of a scam involving bogus click-throughs

A Las Vegas software developer has been charged over a software cookie scam that left eBay severely out of pocket.

Christopher Kennedy built a software program called Saucekit, which could be used to make it look as though internet users had been clicking on advertisements for eBay, according to the court filings.

EBay pays a fixed fee to affiliate sites that direct internet users to the auction site, and uses the information in the cookies to identify the payee for the advertising click-throughs.

Kennedy boasted on message boards that one of his clients was clearing $10,000 (£6,380) a month using the software, and another was making $7,000 (£4,460) a month.

EBay sent him a cease and desist notice in March but Kennedy ignored this and insulted the company and its request in message board postings. EBay also filed a civil suit before involving the police.

Kennedy is facing one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, which carries a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of $250,000 (£160,000).