Card scammers can’t hide from law enforcement
They read like spy novels.
Michael Hogue, aka “xVisceral,” offered remote malware for sale, including RATS (remote access tools) that enabled the user to turn on the web camera on victims’ computers and spy on them to record their keystrokes.
And t here’s Jaren Romt-veit, aka “zer0.” He used hacking tools to steal information from the internal databases of a bank, a hotel, and various online retailers, and then sold the information to others.
Then there’s “JoshTheGod,” a member of a hacking group called “UGNazi”. He was arrested in Manhattan when he met with someone he thought was a fellow hacker delivering counterfeit credit cards. The other guy was an undercover FBI agent.
These accounts contained in a press release describing 2012 FBI undercover operations against cybercriminals would be entertaining — except we’re the victims.
Conducted over a twoyear period, Operation Card Shop resulted in 24 arrests in 13 countries. It was the largest coordinated international law enforcement action in history targeting “carding” crimes. The FBI defines carding as offenses in which the Internet is used to traffic in and exploit the stolen credit card, bank account and other personal identification information of victims.
“The actions taken by an unprecedented number of countries around the world today demonstrate that hackers and fraudsters cannot count on being able to prowl the Internet in anonymity and with impunity, even across national boundaries,” said a U. S. attorney.
“Criminals operating behind the supposed veil of the Internet are still subject to the long arm of the law.”
Crooks engaged i n carding crimes set up “carding forums,” which are websites they use to exchange information. Someone who has stolen credit card numbers may post a message offering to sell them. Others exchange information about hacking methods or computer-security vulnerabilities.
Users can get on the forums only if an established user vouches for them or they pay a fee to the operator of the forum. The FBI set up an undercover forum to identify and investigate cybercriminals.
The FBI says that people who use stolen credit card information to purchase goods over the Internet generally don’t have the goods shipped to their homes. They use “drop addresses,” such as vacant houses or apartments, to take delivery of the stolen goods. Some even rent out their drop addresses to other crooks.
Officials estimate that they prevented losses of more than $205 million and notified credit card issuers of more than 411,000 compromised credit and debit cards. Randy Hutchinson is president and chief executive officer of the Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South.