In a world where artificial intelligence is the buzzword and companies are racing to release their best software, an unfortunate trend is emerging: scammers are taking advantage by rebranding others’ work and selling it at inflated prices. This unethical behavior is damaging the ecosystem of software development. One such scammer, who has mastered the art of rebranding software, is Seun Ogundele. Remember this name—you may receive one of his emails sooner or later.
The Shift from SaaS to WordPress Plugins
Initially, Seun Ogundele focused on rebranding SaaS software and selling access to them. However, he has now moved on to rebranding and nullifying well-known WordPress plugins and themes, then selling them as his own creations. This shift poses a significant threat to the WordPress ecosystem, as it undermines the trust and integrity that developers and users rely on.
Recently, I received several requests to review a product called “WPGenieAI.” As always, I started by watching the demo video, and something seemed eerily familiar. Intrigued, I purchased the product and delved into the code. What I discovered was startling.
The Code That Tells All
Within the code, I found these lines:
update_option('magicai_purchase_code_status', 'valid');
update_option('magicai_purchase_code', '**************************');
update_option('magicai_purchase_code_domain_key', str_replace(array("http://","https://"),"",site_url()));
update_option('magicai_purchase_code_domain', str_replace(array("http://","https://"),"",site_url()));
set_transient('magicai_purchase_code_domain', str_replace(array("http://","https://"),"",site_url()), 12 * HOUR_IN_SECONDS);
set_transient('magicai_license_message', 'License verified! raz0r', (24 * HOUR_IN_SECONDS));These lines are designed to update several options in the WordPress database. Notably, the magicai_purchase_code_status is set to ‘valid.’ You might wonder why someone would manually set the license to valid. The answer lies in the beginning of the line: magicai. A quick search reveals that “MagicAI” is an Envato exclusive product.
Spot the Difference
Comparing the original product with WPGenieAI, it became evident that they are the same product but different versions. The version being sold as WPGenieAI is outdated, while the original has seen numerous improvements and updates. This practice not only deceives customers but also harms the entire ecosystem of WordPress development.
Further investigation revealed more rebranded plugins:
- WP Genie = MagicAI for WordPress
- WP Genie Funnels = Cartflows
- WP Genie Funnels Pro = Cartflows Pro
- WPGenie Automation = AIKit – WordPress AI Automatic Writer
Additionally, another seller has been found selling the same nulled plugins: Great Steals – Agency AI.
Join the Fight Against Software Scammers
If you have encountered similar rebranded or nullified plugins, I invite you to help grow a database of these products. This section on my website will expose these fraudulent authors and provide links to the original source sales pages.
Nullifying software is a harmful practice that disrupts the trust and functionality within our ecosystem. By working together, we can protect the integrity of software development and ensure that creators receive the credit they deserve.
If you want to contribute or have other ideas, please reach out. Let’s work together to safeguard our software ecosystem.
Avoid becoming the star of a long exposé—don’t get tempted by rebranding and nullifying software! Or you might just find your name on my database, with a big “☠️” next to it!
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