Definitely an abuse of the system, but I'm struggling to see where criminal law says you can't make a bunch of fake accounts to listen to garbage music.

[–] bdonvr@thelemmy.club 27 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

In agreeing to be paid by music streaming platforms they almost certainly agreed not to do exactly this. Which makes it fraud.

[–] conciselyverbose@sh.itjust.works 25 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Fraud is pretty broad and covers most things that deliberately misrepresent reality to take money from someone else.

[–] interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 months ago (1 children)

Yet advertising and billionaires exist. It's not what you do, it's what clique you're part of.

[–] sunzu2@thebrainbin.org 1 points 2 months ago

Dont hurt the normies mate!

[–] GammaGames@beehaw.org 16 points 2 months ago (1 children)

From justice.gov:

SMITH, 52, of Cornelius, North Carolina, is charged with wire fraud conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; wire fraud, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison; and money laundering conspiracy, which carries a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.

[–] interdimensionalmeme@lemmy.ml 8 points 2 months ago* (last edited 2 months ago)

This is a ridiculous law, it might as well be called "money fraud". Justice is a bad joke.