Phishers indicted
Six men charged with masterminding a phishing operation.
Six US men have been indicted on charges of masterminding a phishing
operation. According to the indictment, the six men used email-harvesting
software to obtain AOL members' details from the Internet. Then, between
2004 and earlier this year, the group bombarded the AOL members with
messages that used a variety of phishing techniques.
Those customers unfortunate enough to have fallen into the trap of the
phishing scams had their financial details stolen and used to purchase
merchandise on the Internet including gaming consoles, laptops and gift
cards. Later, the phishing gang changed their tactics and began using the
stolen information to produce counterfeit debit cards.
If convicted, the defendants face up to 15 years in prison for fraud in
connection with access devices and aiding and abetting fraud in connection
with access devices; up to 7.5 years in prison for charges of conspiracy to
commit fraud in connection with access devices; and up to five years in
prison for fraud in connection with electronic mail.
Meanwhile, Microsoft is celebrating a successful civil case brought against
British spammer Paul Fox. Microsoft's decision to pursue a civil action
against the spammer paid dividends, since Fox has been ordered to pay the
company £45,000, whereas the UK's anti-spam laws allow for a maximum fine
of just £5,000.
01 October 2006
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