Dangerous Luxury

This episode of the American Greed podcast, presented by CNBC, delves into the story of Vitaly Borker, who built an $18 million online eyewear empire by selling counterfeit luxury brands and terrorizing customers. The podcast details Borker's background, from his Ukrainian roots in Brooklyn's "Little Odessa" to his failed attempt to become a police officer and eventual turn to online fraud. It explains how he exploited loopholes in search engine algorithms to promote his website, DecorMyEyes.com, despite negative reviews and how he used intimidation and violent threats to silence dissatisfied customers. The episode also explores the broader issue of online counterfeiting, its impact on consumers and legitimate businesses, and the challenges of law enforcement in combating it, ultimately leading to Borker's arrest and imprisonment, though he continued his schemes even from behind bars.