A Wildberry employee in the information technology department faced serious accusations after a scheme that manipulated advertising algorithms led to a market loss approaching half a billion rubles. The disclosure came through a Telegram channel known as Shot, which reported the incident.
According to the report, the fraud extended beyond simply changing product prices. It involved a broader, gray-area method of promoting goods that skirted market regulations. Investigators have learned that the employee developed a Telegram bot designed to help sellers bypass platform rules, enabling them to advertise products at no cost and without proper oversight.
The financial impact for Wildberries was tallied at roughly 654 million rubles. Law enforcement agencies are now verifying whether the employee acted as an accomplice or operated independently, seeking to determine the extent of involvement and responsibility.
Earlier information indicated that the individuals behind certain storefronts where Wildberries orders were placed were considering more aggressive actions. The friction stems from dissatisfaction among merchants who see large holdings within the so-called Hidden Goods section, a term used to describe items that are harder to track or regulate. The situation reflects growing tensions between marketplace platforms and third-party sellers over pricing, visibility, and promotional practices that push products outside official channels. [Citation: Shot Telegram channel]