FBI Charges 100 People In Phishing Investigation
Since 2007, the FBI and authorities in Egypt have been running an investigation they've called "Operation Phish Phry," sigh, and this week it paid off with 53 charges against U.S. defendants and 47 against people in Egypt. Three of the 53 in the U.S. have been arrested, and the FBI are looking for the other 50. To prove you're not one of the remaining 50, please send the FBI your login credentials to your bank. Ha ha, we kid.
According to the FBI, the U.S.-Egypt phishing operation collected personal information from thousands of victims and used that information to defraud U.S. banks. Hackers based in Egypt allegedly captured banking information and other personal details, then supplied that information to associates in the U.S. who then withdrew funds using the stolen credentials and wired back a portion of the proceeds to Egypt.
Information Week notes that "all 53 defendants in the U.S. face charges of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and wire fraud, which carry a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison."
"One Hundred Phishers Charged In Largest Cybercrime Case" [Information Week]
(Photo: adobemac)
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Comments:
Hey c'mon guys. I think Phish Phry is funny. Can't we take a joke? And besides, it worked.
Are any of these defendants tied into the e-mail password mess of recent vintage?
Good I think all Phish fans should be incarcerated for liking shitty music. Jerry's dead it sucks, Phish sucks more, take a shower and get over it.
@H3ion: Actually, I just read today that one security researcher thinks the recent password thefts were accomplished with botnets that installed keyloggers, and not via phishing.
@Chris Walters: Its both.
A saying I have pretty much lived by while perusing with this type of activity and the crow that does it is "Exploits will get patched, but stupid is forever".
Basically, yes you can use keyloggers to steal data, or trojans to hijack PCs, but those will get caught if you arent careful, and users just need to be smart enough to install a piece of software to scan for it (and a lot of people are getting to that point..although most are still totally in the dark) but you can trick most people with enough time and effort.
What's Jason Mraz doing in front of that fish tank?
One thing I've learned about government projects is that nothing gets done unless it has a cool project title. So personally, I'm down with OPP!
Haha this is funny considering the head of the FBI was banned by his wife from online banking because he almost fell for a phishing scam. [news.cnet.com]
When we get them in Phederal court they will be wishing they didn't phuck with our Phreedom!
The Pheds really Phlipped them the bird phinally.
and on and on and on.....