Kieu, the City of Deception - Cyber Fraud Empire through the 2000s

Kieu, the City of Deception - Cyber Fraud Empire through the 2000s

Innovative Marketing, a company headquartered in Khiu, Ukraine, was the core of a global cybercrime network in the mid-2000s. Founded by Shaileshkumar Sam Jain and Bjorn Sundin, the company grew rapidly in a short period of time.

The company's core business was the development and sale of fake security software (scareware) such as WinFixer, XP Antivirus, and Antivirus 2009. These products would alert users to the fact that a virus had been detected on their PC screens and encourage them to purchase the paid-for software by inciting anxiety. In some cases, purchasers received software that had no actual virus removal function and were deprived of not only money but also personal information.

The company had over 600 employees, and its operations were subdivided into development, advertising, and customer service, giving it the appearance of a global company with customers in over 60 countries. On the surface, the company appeared to be a legitimate IT company, with a lively atmosphere and regular company outings.

However, the company's prosperity was supported by the weak regulation of cybercrime in Ukraine. At the time, legislation on electronic crime was inadequate, and even international fraud was not actively investigated domestically. This legal blind spot allowed fraudulent companies like Innovative Marketing Inc. to grow.

In 2008, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) finally filed a lawsuit against the company for fraud. The company was ordered to freeze its assets and injunct the related domains. The company then rapidly ceased operations and headed for closure. Shaileshkumar Sam Jain and Bjorn Sundin are still wanted internationally by the FBI, and the whole case is still in the fog.

This company, which ran through the 2000s, hiding a huge deception behind its glamour, remains a documented symbol of the darkness of the digital age and a fragile legal system.