A “faster Internet” scam/hoax

So, this guy tells people he has a "revolutionary" technology that speeds up downloading from the Internet by a factor of maybe a hundred times or more. With it, you can download a full-length movie in seconds. He's had meetings with the President and vice-President about it and is working on ways to use it to beef up national security. Who wouldn't invest in a thing like that? He even wheedles money out of his relatives and his wife's family.

OK, you can see where this is going, right? The thing's a fake, a phony, a fraud. To be honest, I kind of hesitate to post stories like this since this site concerns itself with hoaxes; this, I would say, belongs more in the "scam" category. Still, it has hoax elements to it, so for what it's worth, here it is for your dining and dancing pleasure.

Breakthrough Internet Scam

UPDATE:

The Plot Thickens

Business/Finance Con Artists Technology

Posted on Mon Jul 02, 2007


Comments

I'd just like to tell all those people that invested in this - I've got a car that runs on water and a couple of peanuts - seriously. I can't actually show it to you, but I've got an honest face, right? I can sell it you for the measly sum of
Posted by Nona  on  Mon Jul 02, 2007  at  06:45 AM
somewhere, there's a stadium full of electric cars, 300 mpg carburetors, cold fusion containment systems, and cures for the common cold, all waiting to be crushed. Some of the best things are yet to be invented, like Western Civilization. I'm still waiting for that one.
Posted by Hairy Houdini  on  Mon Jul 02, 2007  at  09:57 AM
I've got a magnetic bracelet that's absolutely guaranteed to unlock the hidden secrets of the mind.

Though with you that might be very dangerous, Hairy. 😉
Posted by Charybdis  in  Hell  on  Mon Jul 02, 2007  at  11:44 AM
Did anyone else notice that his cousins name was Boring?
Posted by Scott L  on  Mon Jul 02, 2007  at  06:10 PM
This is definately a story fit for the Museum of Hoaxes, because it was a very elaborate ruse. As funny as it may seem, I think it is a tragic story. From what the news article seemed to say about Kovar's mother, the tendancy to lie seemed to run in the family, and this man just got caught up in the reality he manufactured and sold. Its disturbing to see someone pulled under by their own lies and hubris.
Posted by Draconegia  on  Mon Jul 02, 2007  at  10:34 PM
You know, if someone does come up with a great invention, someone not connected with any of the established companies or research agencies, they'd never be able to get anyone intereseted because of hoaxes/scams like this. Maybe that's the idea, discredit the concept of new and great inventions and then you can supress them, or have them for only the Illuminati who run everything. All hail the Masters! (If sucking up gets me what I need, well...)
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Tue Jul 03, 2007  at  01:08 AM
"This is definately a story fit for the Museum of Hoaxes, because it was a very elaborate ruse."

I'm glad you feel that way, Draconegia. Sometimes it's hard to tell where "hoax" leaves off and "scam" begins.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Tue Jul 03, 2007  at  03:12 AM
Eh, I always sort of define "scam" as being for money (or something of monetary value), while a "hoax" is done for the satisfaction of fooling people and/or the social commentary and/or the silliness and maybe for the notoriety.
Posted by Accipiter  on  Tue Jul 03, 2007  at  07:07 AM
The sad thing is that the internet speeds we are talking about here are already available in many parts of the world. In Japan, 100 mbps connections are common.

The only thing holding the U.S. back are greedy telecoms.
Posted by coit  on  Tue Jul 03, 2007  at  01:40 PM
"Eh, I always sort of define "scam" as being for money (or something of monetary value), while a "hoax" is done for the satisfaction of fooling people and/or the social commentary and/or the silliness and maybe for the notoriety."

As a guy who has participated in a number of media hoaxes, I tend to agree with you. Other people have other definitions, however, so I kind of defer to inclusion.
Posted by Cranky Media Guy  on  Tue Jul 03, 2007  at  07:15 PM
Wait. . .you mean that my 12.8 kbps connection isn't the fastest around?!? Darn it!
Posted by Accipiter  on  Tue Jul 03, 2007  at  09:00 PM
Accipiter, go for a 300 baud modem. Three hundred is a higher number than 12.8, who cares about the letters, they're meaningless. Right?
Posted by Christopher Cole  on  Tue Jul 03, 2007  at  09:35 PM
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