icoa

PRWeb finally takes down fake Google press release

PRWeb, the public relations company that transmitted a fake press release about Google acquiring Wi-Fi technology provider ICOA, said it has taken down the release and "turned the matter over to the proper authorities."

Marketing company Vocus owns the PRWeb site. Vocus Director of Public Relations Frank Strong posted a statement to the company's Web site, saying that it was a matter of identity theft.

PRWeb transmitted a press release for ICOA that we have since learned was fraudulent. The release was not issued or authorized by ICOA. Vocus reviews all press releases and follows an internal … Read more

Did someone try to make a quick buck on ICOA this morning?

The phony press release sent out this morning on PRWeb detailing Google's acquisition of Wi-Fi provider ICOA for $400 million may have been an attempt to move the company's penny stock.

The company's stock started trading this morning at $0.0001 and steadily climbed throughout the morning to $0.0005, where it peaked around 11:30 a.m. ET. Once news trickled out that the press release was a hoax, the company's stock price sharply dropped to $0.0001 again. And it has bounced between that price and $0.0002 since then.

The fake press release … Read more

Google gets punked by fake news of ICOA acquisition

It's a long ways from April Fools' Day, but someone had a little fun with fake Google acquisition news today.

According to a press release on PRWeb, Google bought Wi-Fi provider ICOA for $400 million. The trouble is the press release isn't real, according to ICOA.

The company's chief financial officer, Erwin Vahlsing Jr., told CNET in an e-mail that the news is false. He didn't provide any other information.

ICOA Chief Executive George Strouthopoulos, meanwhile, told CNET that the company has "never had any discussions with any potential acquirers."

"Someone, I guess … Read more