When eBay Turned Into a Real-Life Horror Movie

The eBay stalking scandal is one of the most disturbing cases of corporate harassment in recent history. This true crime corporate scandal reveals how a group of rogue eBay employees, driven by corporate bullying, hedge fund pressure, and blind loyalty to top executives, waged a brutal cyberstalking campaign against EcommerceBytes, a news site run by David and Ina Steiner.

For years, EcommerceBytes covered the eCommerce industry, publishing news and investigative reports on platforms like eBay, Amazon, and Etsy. The website had a strong following among independent online sellers, providing a space to voice concerns about major eCommerce platforms. But behind the scenes, eBay’s top brass saw the Steiners as a threat, believing their coverage was too critical of the company. What followed was an eBay revenge campaign straight out of a psychological thriller.

It all began on August 8th, when the Steiners started receiving an avalanche of harassment. Hundreds of strange newsletter sign-ups, relentless Twitter threats, and disturbing packages flooded their home. The threats included grotesque items like a pig mask from Saw, a book on grieving a dead spouse sent to David, and even live cockroaches and spiders. Their neighbors were dragged into the chaos, receiving fake yard sale listings and explicit materials in their mail.

The eBay harassment lawsuit took a shocking turn when a funeral wreath arrived at their doorstep—an unmistakable warning that things were escalating. The Steiners contacted the police, but the harassment continued. Then came the big break—David Steiner spotted a suspicious car following him. A single photo of the license plate changed everything.

The FBI launched an investigation, uncovering a criminal operation run from within eBay's corporate offices. The perpetrators weren’t rogue hackers or outsiders—they were high-ranking eBay employees and contractors. Veronica Zea, a member of eBay’s Global Intelligence Team, played a key role in the operation. The FBI arrested six eBay employees, leading to a massive eBay corporate scandal that shook the business world.

However, the case took an even darker turn when it became clear that eBay executives Devin Wenig and Steve Wymer were involved. Internal messages revealed that Wenig, the former eBay CEO, and Wymer, the company’s communications chief, discussed silencing the Steiners. Despite this, eBay avoided criminal charges, and Wenig walked away with a multi-million dollar severance package.

The EcommerceBytes intimidation case raised serious concerns about corporate accountability. How could a multi-billion-dollar company get away with harassing and stalking journalists? The lawsuit against eBay aims to hold the company and its former executives accountable, but justice remains uncertain.

This eBay true crime story exposes the dark secrets of corporate power and the lengths some will go to silence critics. How did a major tech company turn into a real-life cyberstalking ring? Why did eBay executives face no consequences? And what does this scandal reveal about the toxic culture within eBay?

Join us as we break down the eBay cyberstalking case, the FBI investigation, and the legal battle still unfolding. This is more than just a corporate scandal—it’s a cautionary tale about unchecked power and corruption in the tech world.

00:00 eBay’s shocking stalking scandal
00:24 Meet the victims: David and Ina Steiner
01: 10 Why EcommerceBytes became a target for eBay
01:26 The harassment begins with an email
01:42 Fake sign-ups, Twitter threats, and ominous warnings
02:19 Wet specimen delivered to their home
02:49 Pig mask
03:15 Mysterious threats and disturbing packages
03:42 Steiner’s increase security including cameras
04:33 A suspicious car leads to a breakthrough
05:05 Veronica Zea, the eBay employee
05:27 Veronica Zea escapes police @ The Ritz Carlton
05:59 Another breakthrough, funeral wreath credit card purchase
06:30 FBI investigation leads to eBay arrests
06:47 eBay’s cult like harassment campaign
08:30 eBay’s intelligence team under pressure
08:40 Veronica Zea’s motivation
10:13 Charges, convictions and imprisonment
10:40 Why eBay’s CEO and leadership avoided criminal charges
11:46 The lasting impact of eBay’s corporate scandal