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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US claims informant is fraud boss | US claims informant is fraud boss |
| (about 20 hours later) | |
| A former informant of the US secret service has been accused of being the ringleader in the country's biggest and most complex identity theft case. | A former informant of the US secret service has been accused of being the ringleader in the country's biggest and most complex identity theft case. |
| The US Department of Justice claims that Albert "Segvev" Gonzalez and 10 others stole, and then sold more than 40 million bank card numbers. | The US Department of Justice claims that Albert "Segvev" Gonzalez and 10 others stole, and then sold more than 40 million bank card numbers. |
| They allegedly got the data by driving around, finding vulnerable internet networks, and accessing shop records. | They allegedly got the data by driving around, finding vulnerable internet networks, and accessing shop records. |
| Prosecutors said the alleged fraud was an "international conspiracy". | Prosecutors said the alleged fraud was an "international conspiracy". |
| "During the course of the sophisticated conspiracy Mr Gonzalez and his co-conspirators....hacked into wireless computer networks of major retailers," said the US Department of Justice. | "During the course of the sophisticated conspiracy Mr Gonzalez and his co-conspirators....hacked into wireless computer networks of major retailers," said the US Department of Justice. |
| The method, known as "wardriving", involves tracking down vulnerable internet wireless signals and using systems to decipher credit and debit card information from a retailer's system. | The method, known as "wardriving", involves tracking down vulnerable internet wireless signals and using systems to decipher credit and debit card information from a retailer's system. |
| While technology has made our lives much easier it has also created new vulnerabilities Michael Sullivan, US secret service director How secure is your card info? | While technology has made our lives much easier it has also created new vulnerabilities Michael Sullivan, US secret service director How secure is your card info? |
| The Department of Justice said that companies affected included TJX Companies, BJ's Wholesale Club, Boston Market and Barnes & Noble among others. | The Department of Justice said that companies affected included TJX Companies, BJ's Wholesale Club, Boston Market and Barnes & Noble among others. |
| MasterCard spokesman Chris Monteiro told the BBC: "If a cardholder is concerned at all about the security of their account they should immediately contact their issuing financial institution." | MasterCard spokesman Chris Monteiro told the BBC: "If a cardholder is concerned at all about the security of their account they should immediately contact their issuing financial institution." |
| 'New vulnerabilities' | 'New vulnerabilities' |
| While the Department of Justice has not put a price on the scale on the scam it says it is the largest and most complex identity fraud to date. | While the Department of Justice has not put a price on the scale on the scam it says it is the largest and most complex identity fraud to date. |
| "While technology has made our lives much easier it has also created new vulnerabilities," said US secret service director Michael Sullivan. | "While technology has made our lives much easier it has also created new vulnerabilities," said US secret service director Michael Sullivan. |
| "This case clearly shows how strokes on a keyboard with a criminal purpose can have costly results," he added | "This case clearly shows how strokes on a keyboard with a criminal purpose can have costly results," he added |
| He urged consumers, firms and governments worldwide to develop further ways to protect sensitive personal and business information and detect those that "conspire to exploit technology for criminal gain". | He urged consumers, firms and governments worldwide to develop further ways to protect sensitive personal and business information and detect those that "conspire to exploit technology for criminal gain". |
| Perry Tancredi, senior product manager for fraud detection at payment security company VeriSign said that: "Regardless of how strong the security measures, and how vigilant, the weak part of the chain is there is always a human who is responsible and who has overall control over the information." | Perry Tancredi, senior product manager for fraud detection at payment security company VeriSign said that: "Regardless of how strong the security measures, and how vigilant, the weak part of the chain is there is always a human who is responsible and who has overall control over the information." |
| Charges | Charges |
| Mr Gonzalez of Miami has been charged with computer fraud, wire fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identify theft and conspiracy. | Mr Gonzalez of Miami has been charged with computer fraud, wire fraud, access device fraud, aggravated identify theft and conspiracy. |
| Mr Gonzalez, who is in New York in pre-trial confinement, now faces a maximum penalty of life in prison. | |
| Charges were also listed against Christopher Scott and Damon Patrick, both of Miami. | Charges were also listed against Christopher Scott and Damon Patrick, both of Miami. |
| The other named individuals in the case were Maksym "Maksik" Yastremskiy of Kharkov, Ukraine, Aleksandr "Jonny Hell" Suvorov of Sillamae, Estonia. | The other named individuals in the case were Maksym "Maksik" Yastremskiy of Kharkov, Ukraine, Aleksandr "Jonny Hell" Suvorov of Sillamae, Estonia. |
| Charges were also levelled against Hung-Ming Chiu and Zhi Zhi Wang, both from China, and someone known only by the nickname "Delpiero". | Charges were also levelled against Hung-Ming Chiu and Zhi Zhi Wang, both from China, and someone known only by the nickname "Delpiero". |
| Sergey Pavolvich, of Belarus, and Dzmitry Burak and Sergey Storchak, both of Ukraine, were also charged. | Sergey Pavolvich, of Belarus, and Dzmitry Burak and Sergey Storchak, both of Ukraine, were also charged. |