An indictment has been unsealed, implicating eight defendants in an international scheme to defraud clients of $10 million through bogus market survey data, as announced by Acting U.S. Attorney Jay McCormack.
The individuals charged with Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud include Frank Hayden from Evanston, Illinois; Daniel Harriman from Huntsville, Alabama; Frank Nappo from Rye, New Hampshire; Ryan Stoudt from Dallas, Texas; Katarina Grubljesic from Belgrade, Serbia; Strahinja Grubljesic from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Archie Ignacio from Verona, New Jersey; and Arvind Iyer, also known as S. Aravindan, from Delhi, India.
The indictment outlines that the U.S.-based market research companies, Op4G and Slice, were responsible for conducting market research surveys. Senior leaders at Op4G, including Hayden, Harriman, and Nappo, allegedly sought to boost revenues by fabricating survey data. This was achieved by employing "ants," individuals posing as legitimate survey participants, to create fraudulent data. Some defendants also participated as "ants," conducting a large number of these fake surveys and receiving payment.
In a shift around 2018, the scheme moved from Op4G to a newly established company, Slice. Subsequently, by 2019, these two companies conspired with Iyer from the international company, SNWare. Despite leaving Op4G in 2021, Katarina Grubljesic continued the conspiracy through her company, Bright Analytic Consulting.
To avoid detection, the defendants used various tactics, including exchanging instructions with "ants," advising on how to answer screener questions, guiding survey durations, and recommending the use of VPN services to mask IP addresses.
The defendants Hayden, Harriman, Nappo, Stoudt, and Ignacio are expected to appear in federal court at a future date. The potential penalties include up to 20 years in prison, up to three years of supervised release, and a significant fine.
The FBI spearheaded the investigation, and Assistant U.S. Attorney Alexander S. Chen is handling the prosecution. Companies that purchased survey data from Op4G or Slice between 2014 and 2024 have been advised to contact the U.S. Attorney’s office with relevant information.
The indictment's details remain allegations, and the defendants are considered innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.
