|
The Secret Service and hacking
NOTICE: TO ALL CONCERNED Certain text files and messages contained on this site deal with activities and devices which would be in violation of various Federal, State, and local laws if actually carried out or constructed. The webmasters of this site do not advocate the breaking of any law. Our text files and message bases are for informational purposes only. We recommend that you contact your local law enforcement officials before undertaking any project based upon any information obtained from this or any other web site. We do not guarantee that any of the information contained on this system is correct, workable, or factual. We are not responsible for, nor do we assume any liability for, damages resulting from the use of any information on this site.
Citation-> The Long-Distance Letter, May 1990 v8 n5 p4(2)
COPYRIGHT Phillips Publishing Inc. 1990
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Title-> Federal agents reveal progress in hacker case. (Secret
Service investigation)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Subjects-> Computer hackers_investigations
United States. Secret Service_investigations
Article #-> 09040177
----------------------------------------------------------------------
FEDERAL AGENTS REVEAL PROGRESS IN HACKER CASE
Continuing crackdowns on illegal computer hacking that may involve
extensive fraud and theft from long-distance and local telephone
companies were revealed last week by federal authorities who - with
150 Secret Service agents - conducted equipment seizures at 27
locations in 13 cities around the country.
The seized equipment will be sent to Secret Service headquarters in
Washington, D.C., where a months-long analysis will be conducted,
sources said. The study may involve as many as 40 separate computer
systems.
Federal authorities were tight-lipped about the investigation, and
alleged victim companies - primarily telco companies that are
estimating losses in the millions of dollars - said they have been
asked not to comment on the ongoing investigation.
Authorities would not connect the investigation to the "The Legion of
Doom," (TLDL, March 1990, p. 1) a closely knit organization of illegal
hackers who were arrested and charged with penetrating BellSouth's 911
system early this year.
But one source, who monitors legitimate computer hacker activity, said
the investigations "had to be related" because of similarity of
details. Four arrests in that case were announced in March and one
trial is scheduled in a U.S. district court in Chicago in June.
... Indictments Not Expected Immediately
Stephen M. McNamee, U.S. attorney for the District of Arizona, said
last week that the warrants he requested were issued as part of
Operation Sundevil. No arrests have been made and indictments, if any,
are not expected for several months, we have been told.
Searches were conducted in Chicago; Cincinnati; Detroit; Los Angeles;
Miami; Newark, N.J.; New York; Phoenix, Ariz.; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Plano,
Texas; Richmond, Va.; San Diego and San Jose, Calif.
In some early-morning raids, law enforcement officers were reportedly
searching bedrooms and closets for such items as shoe boxes containing
floppy disks that could be connected to the fraud ring.
Authorities said technical and expert assistance was provided by AT&T,
US Sprint and MCI, and other telecommunications companies.
Spokesmen for those companies said only that they cooperated by
providing company records and other information "that helped
investigators."
Officials at a press conference in Phoenix last week said that the
alleged illegal activities consisted of unauthorized accessing of
long-distance telephone credit cards and use of stolen credit card
numbers.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
|
|
