David and Ina Steiner, a Massachusetts couple who edited the EcommerceBytes newsletter, a media outlet specializing in e-commerce that publishes information and criticism about eBay, began receiving anonymous packages at their home in 2019. Inside was nothing normal: a pig mask covered in blood, live cockroaches, spiders, a preserved pig fetus, a funeral wreath, and a book about how to cope with the death of a spouse.
Behind each shipment was a meticulous plan, carried out by eBay employees angered by the criticism the couple published about the company. They did not limit themselves to the packages: they physically followed them, monitored their movements, and sent them direct threats for months, until the FBI intervened.
Seven former employees ended up facing criminal charges and most pleaded guilty. eBay had previously paid a criminal fine of 3 million dollars, and now the company along with several former executives—including former CEO Devin Wenig— agreed to pay the Steiners 56 million dollars to settle the case once and for all.