Cisco Reseller Busted
The VAR Guy loves a good crime drama, especially when it involves technology. Have you heard the one about the Cisco reseller who turned to the dark side? The Bad Guy (no relation to The VAR Guy) allegedly used false identities in 39 states to order networking gear from Cisco since 2003.
Now, for the actual scam: He allegedly exploited a Cisco program that allows customers to immediately obtain replacements for broken or defective parts without having to send in the problem hardware first, according to AP. Daly ordered replacement parts at least 700 times and resold them without ever returning the defective items, or in some cases returning worthless parts that weren’t covered under the program, the wire service reported.
He faces up to 20 years—or four major Windows upgrades (in Microsoft time)—in prison and a $250,000 fine if convicted of wire fraud.