Feds Net Dozens in Phishing Ring Bust
U.S. and Egyptian authorities are arresting dozens of people to crack an identity theft ring that victimized thousands.
Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman in Los Angeles, says agents are making arrests Wednesday morning in Southern California, Nevada and North Carolina. She says about 100 arrests are expected in the United States and Egypt, many in the Los Angeles area.
An indictment accuses the ring of running a "phishing" scheme, using computer intrusion and fraud to obtain personal information allowing them to withdraw money from bank accounts.
In "phishing," people answering an e-mail are directed to a bogus Web site and asked to update information such as passwords and account numbers.
Eimiller says victims may have lost a combined couple million dollars.
AP Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman in Los Angeles, says agents are making arrests Wednesday morning in Southern California, Nevada and North Carolina. She says about 100 arrests are expected in the United States and Egypt, many in the Los Angeles area.
An indictment accuses the ring of running a "phishing" scheme, using computer intrusion and fraud to obtain personal information allowing them to withdraw money from bank accounts.
In "phishing," people answering an e-mail are directed to a bogus Web site and asked to update information such as passwords and account numbers.
Eimiller says victims may have lost a combined couple million dollars.
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7 Comments Add a Comment
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- The other day I counted in my spam box and for a 3 day period I had 50 letters like these.
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- People like this are what the Death Penalty should be used for. Absolute scum.
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- Don't be so glib folks. If one is not paying attention ---- ouch!
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- I know what you guys are saying. It's just amazing that some people fall for these schemes and scams. It's not like they have'nt been warned. Do they live in a cave?
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- I hope they wait until I cash in on my winnings. I have won the Nigerian lotto 4 times, have 24 nigerian people willing to split millions with me for just letting them put money in my bank, I have won the Microsoft lotto, the Irish lotto, the British lotto and the Hong Kong lotto. I have several people offering me jobs that involve me only depositing a check, then sending money elsewhere letting me keep up to 10%. The Internet, where would we be without it?
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- I sent my bank account information to a Nigerian prince who will use the account to put his money in that he cant get to for political reasons and then take it out leaving 1 million tax free dollars for me. I cant wait.
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- This is great. I am so glad to see the FBI dealing with internet crime. I hope they all get severe sentences too.
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