FBI Tales & More Untold MKBHD Stories

FBI Visit

The FBI's visit to Marques Brownlee's studio was prompted by the infamous Escobar phone saga. Marques recounts the surreal experience of FBI agents arriving at his studio to inquire about the Escobar phone, a device that was essentially a Samsung Galaxy Fold with a gold-plated facade and a scam behind it 1. The company behind the phone was running an illegal operation, scamming people by not delivering the phones they promised. Andrew Manganelli adds that the FBI requested all emails related to the company and took the phones as evidence 2.

They were essentially running an illegal business.

--- Marques Brownlee

The case gained attention when the company's head was jailed in Spain, allowing Marques to finally share the story 2.

   

Crypto Scams

The FBI's interest in Marques Brownlee's work extended beyond the Escobar phone to his video on meme coins. After discussing illegal proposals from crypto companies, Marques received emails from Tron, a crypto company, asking for undisclosed promotions, which he reported to the authorities 3. This incident highlights the recurring theme of tech scams that Marques encounters, from crypto to metaverse schemes 3.

If you're doing some illegal stuff, don't email.

--- David Imel

The FBI's involvement underscores the seriousness of these scams and the importance of transparency in influencer marketing 4.