NEW YORK, NY – Vitaly Borker, 41, of Brooklyn, is facing federal charges after authorities say he ran OpticsFast.com as a sophisticated scheme to rip off unsuspecting customers. Borker was arrested today and charged with mail and wire fraud, accused of selling damaged, counterfeit, or nonexistent eyewear through his website and then allegedly subjecting those who complained to a barrage of abuse.
Acting Manhattan U.S. Attorney Joon H. Kim didn’t mince words: “As alleged, Vitaly Borker ran his eyewear business, OpticsFast.com, as an online platform for fraud, selling defective and counterfeit merchandise. And as alleged, when his customers rightfully complained or tried to get their money back, Borker harassed and abused them. Borker’s shameless brand of alleged abuse cannot be tolerated, and we are committed to protecting consumers from becoming victims of such criminal behavior.”
According to the complaint unsealed in Manhattan federal court, OpticsFast.com advertised itself as “the planet’s biggest online website for designer discount sunglasses and eyeglasses,” promising “brand new and 100% authentic” luxury eyewear. The reality, prosecutors allege, was far different. Customers routinely received damaged or fake products, were denied refunds, slapped with unauthorized restocking fees, or simply never received the items they paid for.
But the alleged fraud didn’t stop at deceptive sales. When customers attempted to return merchandise or dispute charges, Borker, operating under an alias, allegedly launched a campaign of harassing emails and text messages. The complaint details how Borker reportedly insulted customers, called them names, and threatened to send disputed sales to debt collectors – a brazen attempt to intimidate and silence legitimate complaints.
Philip R. Bartlett, Inspector in Charge of the New York Office of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, put it bluntly: “Mr. Borker took this to the extreme when he allegedly devised his fraud scheme to cheat consumers attempting to purchase eyewear. His cool shades couldn’t shield him from the bright light of law enforcement who illuminated his alleged illicit scheme.”
Borker faces a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison if convicted on either the mail fraud or wire fraud charges. He is scheduled to appear before the Honorable Ronald L. Ellis later today. The investigation is ongoing, and the case is being handled by the Office’s General Crimes Unit, with Assistant U.S. Attorneys Nicolas Landsman-Roos and Danielle R. Sassoon leading the prosecution. It’s important to remember that these are allegations, and Borker is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
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Key Facts
- State: New York
- Agency: DOJ USAO
- Category: Fraud & Financial Crimes
- Source: Official Source ↗
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