He allegedly harassed customers who complained.
Vitaly Borker, operator of online retailer OpticsFast.com, has been charged with mail and wire fraud.
The Brooklyn man allegedly misrepresented the “authenticity and condition of eyeglasses” and harassed customers who complained or attempted to return their purchases.
“As alleged, Vitaly Borker ran his eyewear business, OpticsFast.com, as an online platform for fraud, selling defective and counterfeit merchandise,” said Joon H. Kim, acting U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. “And as alleged, when his customers rightfully complained or tried to get their money back, Borker harassed and abused them.”
Kim added: “Borker’s shameless brand of alleged abuse cannot be tolerated, and we are committed to protecting consumers from becoming victims of such criminal behavior.”
Borker, 41, has been in trouble for similar crimes before. The New York Times writes that he spent three-and-a-half years in prison “for threatening to stalk, maim and murder customers of his online eyeglass store, DecorMyEyes.
The two current charges against Borker each carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison. His attorney, Dominic F. Amorosa, tells the Times that Borker will “plead not guilty and defend himself against the charges.”
OpticsFast.com “purported to sell ‘brand new and 100% authentic’ luxury eyewear” and advertised itself as “the planet’s biggest online website for designer discount sunglasses and eyeglasses,” according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“But customers of OpticsFast.com frequently received damaged and counterfeit items, were refused refunds, charged unauthorized restocking fees, or never sent eyewear for which they had been charged,” the release states. “When those customers tried to return merchandise, Borker, using an alias, subjected them to a campaign of abusive emails and text messages. Borker also insulted customers, called them names, and threatened to refer disputed sales to debt collectors.”