An Oak Park, California man has been busted over a software program he is said to have threatened to pass to spammers – who could have defrauded Google out of millions – unless the search kings paid him six figures.
Michael Anthony Bradley faces federal extortion and wire fraud charges in the case, which involves a software program believed able to create fake clicks on Google's "cost-per-click" ads on various Websites, federal prosecutors said announcing his June 24 arraignment.
Bradley is also alleged to have claimed he would sell the software to spammers unless Google paid him at least $150,000.
Bradley was arrested at Google's Mountain View offices and pleaded not guilty, going free on a $50,000 bond, according to federal prosecutors. Google said they cooperated completely with the probe that led to Bradley's arrest.
