The Campaign
In one of the strangest corporate scandals in memory, members of eBay’s corporate security team orchestrated a 2019 campaign to intimidate and silence a Massachusetts couple, David and Ina Steiner, who published an e-commerce newsletter that had irritated eBay executives with its critical coverage. The harassment was as disturbing as it was elaborate: employees anonymously sent the couple grotesque deliveries — including things like a bloody pig mask, live insects and funeral-related items — posted threatening messages, traveled to the couple’s town to surveil them, and secretly installed a GPS tracking device on their car. The goal was to frighten the Steiners into stopping or softening their coverage.
That a large public company’s staff would terrorize private citizens over a newsletter shocked the business world.
The Convictions and Lawsuit
Federal prosecutors charged the participants, and seven former eBay employees and contractors — including senior security executives — were convicted, with several sentenced to prison. eBay itself, as a company, paid a multimillion-dollar criminal penalty (about $3 million) and acknowledged the misconduct, saying the individuals had acted wrongly. Separately, the Steiners filed a civil lawsuit against eBay and the individuals seeking damages for the harm they suffered. So the matter produced both criminal accountability for the individuals and civil litigation against the company.
It is a rare case where corporate wrongdoing led to actual prison sentences, not just fines.
What It Illustrates
The case is an extreme illustration of how far corporate power can be abused and why cyberstalking and harassment are serious crimes. For anyone who experiences stalking or coordinated harassment, it is important to document everything, preserve evidence (messages, packages, unusual devices found on your property) and contact law enforcement. Threats and surveillance are not ‘just online’ — as this case showed, they can be prosecuted and can support a civil claim for damages.
Before You Act
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eBay Cyberstalking Case: The Corporate Harassment Scandal: Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions about this case and your legal options.
What was the eBay cyberstalking case?
In 2019, members of eBay's corporate security team ran a campaign to terrorize a Massachusetts couple whose newsletter criticized eBay — sending disturbing deliveries like a bloody pig mask and live insects, making threats, surveilling them, and secretly putting a GPS tracker on their car.
What happened to the people involved?
Seven former eBay employees and contractors, including senior security executives, were criminally convicted, with several sentenced to prison. eBay paid a criminal penalty of about $3 million, and the targeted couple filed a civil lawsuit against eBay and the individuals.
What should victims of stalking or harassment do?
Document everything, preserve evidence (messages, packages, any unusual devices found on your property), and contact law enforcement. Threats and surveillance are serious crimes and can also support a civil claim for damages.
Legal Disclaimer
This article is general legal information, not legal advice, and does not create an attorney-client relationship. Case status, eligibility criteria, and any amounts described are as reported at the date shown and may change. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction about your own situation.