Denver Man Admits Christmas Lights Web Hoax

Alek Komarnitsky, who boasted that his Web site allowed strangers to turn his Christmas lights off and on from afar, holds a remote control for the lights on his home in Lafayette, Colo. (Richard M. Hackett -- Longmont Daily Times-call Via AP)

Komarnitsky said some of his neighbors, who were quoted in news articles, were in on the scam. One allowed him to put a camera in a tree across the street.

"He put an extension cord that didn't go anywhere," said Marjie Hargrave, whose tree supported the camera.

Komarnitsky said he has received more than 1,000 e-mails from appreciative visitors to the site.

In one, posted on his Web site Dec. 4, Komarnitsky gave advice to a woman who said her grandson had told a lie and was worried what he would get from Santa Claus. He responded: "One thing I tell my two boys (and elves) is to ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH."

Komarnitsky made money from advertisements posted on the site. He said it amounted to only "pennies" for each hit on the ads. He said he could not disclose the amount because of a deal with Google.

Paul McLellan, general manager of Minneapolis-based ServiceLighting.com, which had an ad on the site, said Komarnitsky's actions were unethical.

"Finding out he's making a buck off of something that costs us a buck, it's not very cool," McLellan said.

A spokesman for Google declined to comment until officials could look into the matter further.