Despite being repeatedly told that people were using his product to spy on others without their consent, Fleming helped them with technical support.
A government investigator also opened an affiliate marketing account for PCTattletale, and Fleming offered ready-made banner ads with text such as “PCTattletale cheating husband? #1 catch a cheater spy tracker” and “PCTattletale husband cheating? Best catch a cheater spy app.”
Fleming noted in an email that PCTattle was more successful when marketed to women, because “a lot more women at the time wanted to hold their man.” [sic] Upside down.” Financial records revealed that Fleming was selling approximately 1,200 PCTattle subscriptions per year ranging from $99 to $300.
Based on all this, the government obtained a search warrant in late 2022 and raided the Bruce Township home where Fleming lived.
In 2024, TechCrunch reported that pcTattletale was hacked and much of its data was leaked. Apparently, hackers had gained access to the company’s private key to the Amazon Web Services account where most of the video data created by the app was stored. Fleming claimed at the time that his company was “out of business and completely liquidated” after the breach.
The feds ultimately charged Fleming with selling a product while “knowing or having reason to know” that the software was “useful primarily for the purpose of covert interception of wire, oral or electronic communications.” This week in California, Fleming pleaded guilty to one count and was released on his own recognizance while awaiting sentencing.
A piece of stalkerware is off the market; Unfortunately, many others remain, and their owners and operators are often hard to find.
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