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Scam Alerts Internet Crime Complaint Center's (IC3) This report, which is based upon information from law enforcement and complaints submitted to the IC3, details recent cyber crime trends and new twists to previously-existing cyber scams. The IC3 has received several complaints referencing a new twist on the extortion/hit man scam, which is now targeting nannies and day care providers. The fraudster contacts the potential victims via email claiming their team was hired by a friend of the victim to "terminate" them. The fraudster demands amounts ranging from $150,000 to $250,000 to call off the hit and claims he will hand over a tape containing evidence as to who hired him once the amount is paid. The recipient is threatened with murder and the kidnapping of the children in their care if they fail to comply. The majority of the victims had some affiliation with a nanny position and speculated that the fraudster must have obtained their contact information through an online classified ad offering their services as nannies. Others stated they had advertised online that they were seeking a nanny, while one victim was reportedly a day care worker. Since January 2010, the IC3 has received hundreds of complaints regarding a website that victims reportedly used to transfer money for the sales of firearms; however, the website has not allowed them to withdraw the funds after their merchandise was sold. The website claims to be a payment processor to be used as an alternative to other familiar online payment transfer services and was created to allow for the purchase of items that others of its kind do not allow (e.g., firearms). The website encourages consumers to use their services by advertising that they send money to consumers or anyone with an email address, an individual can easily pay for anything using the web, and sign-up is free, quick, and easy. The website appears to have been set up as a legitimate business but shortly after operations began, customers started experiencing funding delays. Ultimately, customers who received funds only received partial payments, and those payments were delayed by months. Additional research indicates that the money submitted for transfer may have been fraudulently misappropriated. This scam appears to have become a Ponzi scheme with previous customers being paid by funds from new customers. The IC3 received information from law enforcement and complaints filed with the IC3 concerning an adoption scam. The scam is an attempt to collect personal information and funds from individuals seeking to adopt a child. Victims reported responding to on-line advertisements for adoptions, such as "Baby Needs A Home." The operators of the site are fraudsters who claimed to have an overseas orphaned child in need of adoption. Preying on victims' emotions, the fraudsters explained how they promised to care for the child after the mother's death. The fraudsters said they were not affiliated with an adoption agency because no such agencies exist in their area. Nevertheless, they asked the victims to send pictures of their family and to complete forms that required personal information such as Social Security Number and their mother's maiden name. Fraudsters sent the victims a birth certificate and pictures of a child. One victim reported that the birth certificate appeared altered. Fraudsters told victims to send hundreds of dollars via money order, credit card, or wire transfer to a bank account for legal fees. The fraudsters claimed they would "ship" the child upon receipt of the funds. Instead, the fraudsters pocketed the money gained from the scam and provided no children for adoption. Telephone Collection Scam Related to Delinquent Payday Loans The IC3 receives a high volume of complaints from victims of payday loan telephone collection scams. In these scams, a caller claims that the victim is delinquent in a payday loan and must repay the loan to avoid legal consequences. The callers purport to be representatives of the FBI, Federal Legislative Department, various law firms, or other legitimate-sounding agencies. They claim to be collecting debts for companies such as United Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Advance, U.S. Cash Net, and other internet check cashing services. One of the most insidious aspects of this scam is that the callers have accurate information about the victims, including social security numbers, dates of birth, addresses, employer information, bank account numbers, names and telephone numbers of relatives and friends. The method by which the fraudsters obtained the personal information is unclear, but victims often relay that they had completed online applications for other loans or credit cards before the calls began. The fraudsters relentlessly call the victim's home, cell phone, and place of employment. They refuse to provide to the victims any details of the alleged payday loans and become abusive when questioned. The callers threaten victims with legal actions, arrests, and in some cases physical violence if they refuse to pay. In many cases, the callers even resort to harassment of the victim's relatives, friends, and employers. Some fraudsters instruct victims to fax a statement agreeing to pay a certain dollar amount, on a specific date, via prepaid visa card. The statement further declares that the victim would never dispute the debt. These telephone calls are an attempt to obtain payment by instilling fear in the victims. Do not follow the instuctions of the caller. Alexander Details U.S. Cyber Command Gains By Jim Garamone American Forces Press Service WASHINGTON, Sept. 24, 2010 – Establishing U.S. Cyber Command closed the gap that prevented the Defense Department from defending its crucial information networks, the organization’s commander told the House Armed Services Committee yesterday. Cybercom, based at Fort Meade, Md., merges the offensive and defensive sides of DOD’s cyber world into one organization for the benefit of both sides, said Army Gen. Keith B. Alexander, who also is director of the National Security Agency. The command stood up in May. Before that, Joint Task Force Global Network Operations was responsible for defense. “That task force got one level of intelligence and could see one part of the network,” Alexander told the committee. “Operating on the other side was the Joint Functional Component Command Net Warfare trained at a different level with different intel insights at a different classification level.” Two organizations had responsibility for the same network, the general explained. “And if you were operating at the National Training Center, you wouldn’t have the defensive team out there defending, and then take them off the field and run out with an offensive team,” he said. “It’s the same team.” The offense and defense cannot be different, because these operations will occur in real time, the general said. “It’s also an experience that we’ve seen in some of our red team and blue teams of what's happening in our networks,” he said. “And I think that's a huge and a positive step and goes significantly toward providing better support to the [combatant commands].” A subunified command under U.S. Strategic Command, Cybercom has about 1,000 servicemembers and civilian employees. The command has a budget of about $120 million this year, and is programmed for about $150 million in fiscal 2011. “We need the continued support of Congress and the resources that the department is putting forward for the component commands that we have here,” Alexander said. “It is going to have to grow. Each of them are looking at this and addressing that, and we will need your continued support to make that happen.” But the command also needs authorities and guidance from Congress and the White House to ensure a good defense. Alexander said the thinking is that any cyber defense will require a team effort incorporating the Homeland Security Department, the FBI, the Defense Department and other concerned public and private agencies. “Right now, the White House is leading a discussion on what are the authorities needed and how do we do this and … how will that team operate to defend our country?” he said. “What they will look at across that is what are the authorities, what do we have legally, and then given that, what do we have to come back to Congress and reshape or mold for authorities to operate in cyberspace?” Alexander went on to describe different forms of the cyber threat. “Since the inception of the Internet, as it were, probably the key thing that we’ve seen is hacker activity and exploitation,” he said. “That’s where someone comes in and takes information from your computer, steals your credit card number, takes money out of your account.” That threat endures, and it possibly is the most significant form of the threat, the general said. It is not just stealing American intellectual property, he noted, but also involves theft of U.S. secrets and compromising other parts of U.S. networks. Fast-forward to 2007, when Estonia became the first nation attacked in cyberspace. “We see a shift from exploitation to actually using the Internet as a weapons platform to get another country to bend to the will of another country,” Alexander said. “While it’s hard to attribute that to a nation state, you can see it did happen when two nations were quarreling over political issues.” Disruptive cyber attacks on Georgia followed in 2008. “A disruptive attack prevents you from doing your business for the time being,” the general explained, but it’s normally something that you can recover from and then go on and do your business. “What concerns me the most,” he continued, “is destructive attacks that are coming, and we’re concerned that those are the next things that we will see.” Destructive attacks destroy equipment, Alexander said, and the victim cannot take the same equipment and just drive forward. “It’s not something that you recover from by just stopping the traffic,” he said. “It is something that breaks a computer or another automated device and, once broken, has to be replaced. That could cause tremendous damage.” DOD is concerned if that happens in a war zone to defense networks, Alexander said. “If that were to happen in a war zone, that means our command and control system and other things suffer,” he said. “We’ve got to be prepared for that both from a defensive perspective, and then to ensure that the enemy can’t do that to us. Again – a full operational capability.” DOD classified networks have been breached. A foreign intelligence agency used a flash drive to put a virus into U.S. Central Command networks in 2008. The department launched Operation Buckshot Yankee to combat the worm, and Cybercom has drawn lessons from the experience. “We actually had three parts that came out of that Operation Buckshot Yankee – culture, conduct and capability,” Alexander told the representatives. “On the culture side, it was getting commanders to understand this is commander’s business. This isn’t something that you say, ‘I’m going to have one of my staff run it.’ This is commander's business. Commanders are responsible for the operation of their command. And this operational network, it’s important to them.” Lynn Details Threats to U.S., NATO Cybersecurity By Jim Garamone BRUSSELS, Belgium, Sept. 15, 2010 – If it’s not protected, the great technological superiority the United States and NATO enjoy also could be a great vulnerability, Deputy Defense Secretary William J. Lynn III said here today. Speaking at an event sponsored by the Security and Defense Agenda, Lynn said information technology is the basis for much of the military capabilities fielded by the United States and other NATO countries, and that all nations need to invest in cybersecurity. “[Information systems] provide the kind of real-time situational awareness, the sophisticated command and control, the precision targeting – all the elements that have made it very difficult for any adversary or set of adversaries to challenge us directly in any military confrontation,” he said. But that strength and reliance also can prove to be a liability, he said. Adversaries can challenge the NATO countries indirectly by compromising information technology. This was brought home in 2008, when a foreign intelligence agency got an infected flash drive into a classified Defense Department computer network in the Middle East. “Malware was loaded on our classified network, and … our systems were compromised,” Lynn said. The response was called Operation Buckshot Yankee, and it entailed remedial efforts to clean up the spillage, Lynn said. The incident and the subsequent operation led to a change in thinking in the department toward the cybersecurity threat, he added. Officials realized that cyber attacks or cyber espionage will be increasingly a preferred way for enemies to confront the American military, the deputy secretary said. “It’s relatively low-cost,” said he explained. “You don’t have to invest in fleets of … tanks, planes [or] ships to have a very significant capability to challenge even a sophisticated adversary.” More than 100 foreign intelligence agencies are trying to hack into Defense Department systems on a daily basis, he said. Cyber attacks are attractive because of the difficulty of determining who actually launched them, Lynn said. A virus or malware travels at the speed of light, and pinpointing exactly who launched an attack can take months to decipher, if it’s possible at all, he added. This type of attack also breaks down the strategy of deterrence to an extent, the deputy secretary said. The old idea was that if an adversary launched an attack, the United States would launch a devastating attack in return. “Where you have difficulties with attribution, it’s hard to guarantee assured retaliation, because you don’t know who to retaliate against,” he explained. “Also, as the set of adversaries we face has shifted to more non-governments – terrorists such as al-Qaida – even if you determine the origin of the attack, they might not have assets that you can truly hold at risk.” This means the Defense Department has to shift from retaliation to denying an enemy benefit from an attack by beefing up Cybersecurity, Lynn said. Still, he added, this is difficult, because attackers have the advantage. The Internet is open by its nature, the deputy secretary said, as Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency scientists designed it to facilitate the free and fast flow of information. “It was not designed with security in mind,” he said. “As defenders, we have to defend every portal. As attackers, a single failure can gain entrance to the networks and allow them to compromise those networks.” This calls for a different approach to cybersecurity, because no country can hide its networks behind a cyber Maginot Line of firewalls and intrusion devices, the deputy secretary said. “We need a strategy that can deny the benefit to the attackers despite the numerous advantages that the attackers have,” Lynn said. All of this is further complicated by the fact that attacks are not limited to the Internet. “You have to look at the supply chain,” Lynn said. Counterfeit chips and malicious code are threats, and they can be extremely difficult to find and fix, he explained. Lynn said any cybersecurity strategy really has to include nonmilitary systems as well as military systems. The infrastructure networks – the power grid, the transportation networks, the financial networks – are critical in their own right to national security, he said. The deputy secretary argued for a flexible and fast cybersecurity system. “I think you have to be modest about your ability to predict about where the threat is going to come from,” he said. “The theory is helpful, but not very predictive.” He said there have been many conjectures, but no one has been particularly good about pinpointing the adversary or what form an attack will take, even in conventional warfare. “When you look at a strategy, you have to adopt one that is flexible and adaptable in its own right,” he said, “because of the difficulty in predicting the threat and where this threat will appear.” Canadian Man Sentenced to 33 Months in Prison for Selling Counterfeit Cancer Drugs Using the Internet WASHINGTON—Hazim Gaber, 22, of Edmonton, Canada, was sentenced today in Phoenix by U.S. District Court Judge James A. Teilborg to 33 months in prison for selling counterfeit cancer drugs using the Internet, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke for the District of Arizona, and FBI Special Agent in Charge of the Phoenix Field Office Nathan T. Gray. Judge Teilborg also ordered Gaber to pay a $75,000 fine, as well as $53,724 in restitution, and to serve three years of supervised release following his prison term. Gaber was indicted by a federal grand jury in Phoenix on June 30, 2009, on five counts of wire fraud for selling counterfeit cancer drugs through the website DCAdvice.com. Gaber was arrested on July 25, 2009, in Frankfurt, Germany, and was extradited to the United States on Dec. 18, 2009. At his plea hearing in May 2010, Gaber admitted selling what he falsely claimed was the experimental cancer drug sodium dichloroacetate, also known as DCA, to at least 65 victims in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Belgium, and the Netherlands between October and November 2007. Gaber also admitted to selling more than 800 pirated copies of business software between February 2007 and December 2008. As part of the plea agreement, Gaber agreed to forfeit or cancel any website, domain name, or Internet services account related to this fraud scheme. “Hazim Gaber went from selling false hope to cancer patients to now spending 33 months in a U.S. prison,” said Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Criminal Division. “Criminals often seek to exploit the most vulnerable of victims—but offering fake, unapproved medication to cancer patients reaches a new low. Today’s sentence shows that cyber criminals who prey on the seriously ill cannot elude justice simply by committing crimes outside of our borders.” “Gaber used the Internet to victimize people already suffering from the effects of cancer,” said Dennis K. Burke, U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona. “Now he will go to prison for this bogus business and heartless fraud.” “The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are committed to pursuing individuals who prey on those who are living with the affects of cancer,” said Nathan Gray, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Phoenix Division. “Today’s sentencing illustrates international law enforcement partners working together to send a message not to use the Internet to perpetuate fraud, especially against those afflicted with a serious medical condition.” According to the plea agreement, Gaber charged $23.68 for 10 grams of the purported DCA, $45.52 for 20 grams or $110.27 for 100 grams, plus shipping. In actuality, Gaber admitted he sent victims a white powdery substance that was later determined through laboratory tests to contain starch, dextrin, dextrose or lactose, and contained no DCA. According to court documents, along with the counterfeit DCA, the packages also contained a fraudulent certificate of analysis from a fictitious laboratory and instructions on how to dilute and ingest the bogus DCA. DCA is an experimental cancer drug that has not yet been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use in the United States. According to the plea agreement Gaber knew that the website DCAdvice.com contained false claims that it was the only legal supplier of DCA and falsely claimed it was associated with the University of Alberta. According to information contained in the plea agreement, DCA is an odorless, colorless, inexpensive, relatively non-toxic experimental cancer drug that is highly sought by cancer patients. A doctor at the University of Alberta in Canada published a report in early 2007 summarizing the results of a study, which showed that DCA caused regression in several cancers, including lung cancer, breast cancer and cancerous brain tumors. According to information contained in the plea agreement, DCA cannot be prescribed by a medical doctor in the United States or Canada, since it is currently not approved for use in patients with cancer, nor is DCA available in pharmacies. Today’s sentencing is part of a larger department-wide effort led by the Department of Justice Task Force on Intellectual Property (IP Task Force). Attorney General Eric Holder created the IP Task Force to combat the growing number of domestic and international intellectual property crimes, protect the health and safety of American consumers, and safeguard the nation’s economic security against those who seek to profit illegally from American creativity, innovation and hard work. The IP Task Force seeks to strengthen intellectual property rights protection through heightened criminal and civil enforcement, greater coordination among federal, state, and local law enforcement partners, and increased focus on international enforcement efforts, including reinforcing relationships with key foreign partners and U.S. industry leaders. To learn more about the IP Task Force, go to www.justice.gov/dag/iptaskforce/ The case was prosecuted by Trial Attorney Thomas S. Dougherty of the Criminal Division’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section and Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter Sexton of the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Arizona. Significant assistance has been provided by the Edmonton Police Service, the Alberta Justice Office of Special Prosecutions-Edmonton, the Competition Bureau of Canada, the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Trade Commission and the Alberta Partnership Against Cross Border Fraud. The Criminal Division’s Office of International Affairs provided assistance in this case. The case was investigated by the Phoenix FBI Cyber Squad. National Cyber Alert System Real-World Warnings Keep You Safe OnlineMany of the warning phrases you probably heard from your parents and teachers are also applicable to using computers and the internet. Why are these warnings important? Like the real world, technology and the internet present dangers as well as benefits. Equipment fails, attackers may target you, and mistakes and poor judgment happen. Just as you take precautions to protect yourself in the real world, you need to take precautions to protect yourself online. For many users, computers and the internet are unfamiliar and intimidating, so it is appropriate to approach them the same way we urge children to approach the real world. What are some warnings to remember? Don't trust candy from strangers - Finding something on the internet does not guarantee that it is true. Anyone can publish information online, so before accepting a statement as fact or taking action, verify that the source is reliable. It is also easy for attackers to "spoof" email addresses, so verify that an email is legitimate before opening an unexpected email attachment or responding to a request for personal information. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is - You have probably seen many emails promising fantastic rewards or monetary gifts. However, regardless of what the email claims, there are not any wealthy strangers desperate to send you money. Beware of grand promises—they are most likely spam, hoaxes, or phishing schemes (see Reducing Spam, Identifying Hoaxes and Urban Legends, and Avoiding Social Engineering and Phishing Attacks for more information). Also be wary of pop-up windows and advertisements for free downloadable software—they may be disguising spyware. Don't advertise that you are away from home - Some email accounts, especially within an organization, offer a feature (called an autoresponder) that allows you to create an "away" message if you are going to be away from your email for an extended period of time. The message is automatically sent to anyone who emails you while the autoresponder is enabled. While this is a helpful feature for letting your contacts know that you will not be able to respond right away, be careful how you phrase your message. You do not want to let potential attackers know that you are not home, or, worse, give specific details about your location and itinerary. Safer options include phrases such as "I will not have access to email between [date] and [date]." If possible, also restrict the recipients of the message to people within your organization or in your address book. If your away message replies to spam, it only confirms that your email account is active. This may increase the amount of spam you receive. Lock up your valuables - If an attacker is able to access your personal data, he or she may be able to compromise or steal the information. Take steps to protect this information by following good security practices (see the Cyber Security Tips index page for a list of relevant documents). Some of the most basic precautions include locking your computer when you step away; using firewalls, anti-virus software, and strong passwords; installing appropriate software updates; and taking precautions when browsing or using email. Have a backup plan - Since your information could be lost or compromised (due to an equipment malfunction, an error, or an attack), make regular backups of your information so that you still have clean, complete copies (see Good Security Habits for more information). Backups also help you identify what has been changed or lost. If your computer has been infected, it is important to remove the infection before resuming your work (see Recovering from Viruses, Worms, and Trojan Horses for more information). Keep in mind that if you did not realize that your computer was infected, your backups may also be compromised. The 3 Keys To Keeping Your Computer Network Virus-Free! 2010-08-07 14:10:08 (GMT) WiredPRNews.com - With over 1,000,000 types of known viruses and thousands more threats not yet identified, it is clear that organized cyber criminals are becoming more sophisticated, organized, and effective in their attempts to access your computer. Viruses can do a lot more than make your computer “act funny.” They can steal confidential passwords and account information, wipe out your data, and destroy your system. Plus, recovering your system from a virus can get very expensive. The old saying, “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” certainly applies here. TO KEEP YOUR COMPUTER VIRUS-FREE, HERE ARE 3 KEY STRATEGIES: 1. Install and maintain a good firewall. A firewall will protect your computer from malicious programs that work 24-7 to find inroads to unprotected systems. Windows XP’s firewall offers limited protection and should not be your only defense. 2. Install and maintain up-to-date anti-virus software. Anti-virus protection is a must on any Internet connected computer. However, you must make sure it is always being updated. New viruses are being released daily. If you miss an update, you’re vulnerable. 3. Update your operating system. Microsoft frequently releases updates (called patches) to protect their users from newly discovered security loopholes. While most updates can be installed automatically with Windows Update, some require professional attention. Want to be ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN you are protected from malicious attacks? Call Cartish and we’ll schedule a SECURITY AUDIT of your network that will: Check your firewall and network security Check for critical updates and patches Check your anti-virus software Scan for hidden spyware programs Check for system errors, conflicts, or other problems Verify your system backups If your network is free and clear of virus threats, you’ll sleep easier at night! If we discover a security loophole, we’ll explain your options for getting it fixed ASAP. Cartish Technologies is an innovative technology company focused on providing hardware and software support for small and medium-sized businesses. We have partnered with leaders in the industry to aide us in delivering these solutions. Our goal as a Managed Service Provider is to provide you with customized solutions while building a strong, long-term relationship. This relationship is based upon quality work, excellent customer service and our ability to help you implement the right solutions and architecture in a productive and efficient manner within your organization. As a full service information technology consulting organization, we focus on providing technology-based solutions that will help customers navigate through today’s information technology issues and plan for future needs. FBI New York and Fordham University Join Together for the Second Annual International Conference on Cyber Security The International Conference on Cyber Security (ICCS) 2010, a joint effort between the Federal Bureau of Investigation and Fordham University, brought together global leaders and representatives from over 40 countries in emerging cyber threat analysis and enforcement at Fordham University's Lincoln Center campus, August 2-5, 2010. Among the top speakers to present at this event was FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III. For the second year in a row, Fordham has partnered with the FBI to sponsor this conference. The working relationships between law enforcement professionals and those in the private sector and academia are instrumental in combating cyber crimes worldwide. Representatives from various law enforcement and government agencies, academic institutions, and private industries enjoyed presentations, exhibitions, and access to networking opportunities. Participants discussed advancements in the field of cyber security and emerging cyber threats, in addition to other related topics.
Speaking at the conference, FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III said, “No one country, no one company, and no one agency can stop cyber crime. A ‘bar the windows and bolt the doors’ mentality will not ensure our collective safety. Fortresses will not hold forever; walls will one day fall down. We must start at the source; we must find those responsible.” Acting Assistant Director in Charge of the FBI New York Division George Venizelos said, “We are joined today by our domestic associates as well as representatives from many countries throughout the world. In addition to our domestic partnerships, the international partnerships we share provide invaluable contributions and intelligence sharing efforts for use in examining the field of cyber security. ICCS 2010 has served as a perfect venue to advance the fight against cyber crime.”
President of Fordham Joseph McShane, S.J., welcomed participants to the event. "Learning—information—has a privileged place in the academy. Therefore, it is both natural and providential that Fordham join with the FBI to convene experts in law enforcement, academia, and industry on the integrity of the nation's cyber infrastructure. In its second year, this conference, and the close partnership it represents, is a model way forward in protecting what has become a critical component of the global intellectual marketplace." FBI New York Special Agent in Charge of the Cyber/Special Operations Division Mary Galligan said, “The growth of cyber crime and the impact it has on the world affects not only the United States, but the international community as well. ICCS afforded the FBI and our foreign law enforcement partners an opportunity to share ideas and enhance the already strong bond that exists around the globe. The mitigation of today's complex cyber crime can only be achieved through collaboration between the public and private sector."
For more information on the FBI’s cyber mission: FBI, Slovenian and Spanish Police Arrests Mariposa Botnet Creator, Operators The FBI, in partnership with the Slovenian Criminal Police and the Spanish Guardia Civil, announced significant developments in a two-year investigation of the creator and operators of the Mariposa Botnet. A botnet is a network of remote-controlled compromised computers. The Mariposa Botnet was built with a computer virus known as “Butterfly Bot” and was used to steal passwords for websites and financial institutions. It stole computer users’ credit card and bank account information, launched denial of service attacks, and spread viruses. Industry experts estimated the Mariposa Botnet may have infected as many as 8 million to 12 million computers. “In the last two years, the software used to create the Mariposa botnet was sold to hundreds of other criminals, making it one of the most notorious in the world,” said FBI Director Robert S. Mueller, III. “These cyber intrusions, thefts, and frauds undermine the integrity of the Internet and the businesses that rely on it; they also threaten the privacy and pocketbooks of all who use the Internet.” In February, the Spanish Guardia Civil arrested three suspected Mariposa Botnet operators: “Netkairo,” “Jonyloleante,” and “Ostiator,” aka Florencio Carro Ruiz, Jonathan Pazos Rivera, and Juan Jose Bellido Rios. These individuals are being prosecuted in Spain for computer crimes. Last week, the Slovenian Criminal Police identified and arrested the Mariposa Botnet’s suspected creator, a 23-year-old Slovenian citizen known as “Iserdo.” The work of the Slovenian and Spanish authorities was integral to this investigation. FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Gordon M. Snow said: “This case shows the value of strong partnerships among law enforcement agencies worldwide in the fight against cyber criminals. Cyber crime knows no boundaries, and without international collaboration, our efforts to dismantle these operations would be impossible. The FBI praises the work of our Slovenian and Spanish partners who worked closely with our agents in this case.” In a statement, Slovenian Minister of the Interior Katarina Kresal and Director General Janko Gorsek, Slovenian Criminal Police, said: “We are glad to cooperate with the United States; the FBI’s assistance is invaluable and represents professional affirmation of our force. This case shows that cyber crime issues call for international police cooperation that shouldn’t be hindered by geographical borders. The FBI has demonstrated a high level of collaboration in which our countries were equal partners, which was crucial for the success of the investigation and reducing the threat on a global level. This partnership serves as a solid basis for future cooperation.” Maj. Juan Salom, commander of the Guardia Civil’s Cyber Crime Division, noted: “The Mariposa case showed how the coordinated and joint actions of different international police forces, along with the efforts of the Internet security industry, have been able to face the global threat of cyber crime,” he said. “The cyber kingpins know that they are not invincible anymore because the global efforts of the FBI, Slovenian Criminal Police, and Spanish Guardia Civil have shown that it doesn’t matter where or how they try to hide, they will be located and prosecuted.” From 2008 to 2010, the Slovenian citizen created “Butterfly Bot” and sold it to other criminals worldwide. In turn, these criminals developed networks of infected computers—botnets—and the Mariposa variety from Spain was the most notorious and largest. In addition to selling the Butterfly Bot program, the Slovenian citizen developed customized versions for certain customers and created and sold plug-ins (add-ons) to augment the botnet’s features and functionality. This case is significant because it targeted not only the operators of the botnet but also the creator of the malicious software that was used to build and operate it. The success of this investigation was made possible because of the skill, professionalism, and commitment of the Slovenian Criminal Police’s Cyber Crime Division and the Spanish Guardia Civil’s Computer Crimes Group. The FBI conducted this investigation with the assistance of the United States Attorney’s Office, District of Hawaii, and the Department of Justice’s Computer Crime and Intellectual Property Section, Office of International Affairs, and the Botnet Threat Focus Cell. The FBI also received invaluable assistance from the Mariposa Working Group. PROTECT YOUR COMPUTER
Don’t be Scared by 'Scareware' 07/09/10 - We’ve all seen them, pop-up messages telling you your computer is infected with a virus. To get rid of it, all you have to do is order the antivirus software being advertised. Before you click, though, know this: few Internet security companies use ads to tell you about a virus on your computer. Most of these pop-ups are scams, and it’s one of the fastest-growing types of Internet fraud today. from Webmaster B. javamanmonk: I saw a scare-ware pop up, telling me I had a virus, shortly after I received this warning from the Federal Bureau of Investigation. I encountered this pop-up after following a link from a search engine. When the website page loaded, the pop-up appeared, telling me that I had a virus on my computer, this pop-up basically froze my browser controls. I had to close the window that this pop-up appeared in. Beware!
Evaluate Appeals for Help from Friends Traveling Abroad with Caution The Internet Crime Complaint Center continues to receive reports of individuals’ e-mail or social networking accounts being compromised and used in a social engineering scam to swindle consumers out of thousands of dollars. Here’s how it works: Hackers infiltrate your social networking page, claim to be you, and write your contacts/friends. They portray themselves as “victims” who were robbed while traveling abroad and state they need money immediately because they don’t have a passport, money, credit cards, or cell phone and are stranded. Some claim they only have a few days to pay their hotel bill and promise to reimburse costs upon their return home. Recipients may be tempted to respond to these appeals because they appear to be from a friend and there’s a sense of urgency to help. If you receive a similar notice and aren’t sure if it is a scam, you should always verify the information before sending any money. If you have been a victim of this type of scam or any other cyber crime, report it to the IC3 website at www.IC3.gov. The IC3’s database links complaints for potential referral to the appropriate law enforcement agency for case consideration. Complaint information is also used to identity emerging trends and patterns. IC3 Celebrates 10 Years of Fighting Cybercrime Internet Crime Complaint Center Receives More Than 1.5 Million Complaints FAIRMONT, WV—Fighting cybercrime has become an increasingly more challenging task as criminals have gotten more and more creative over the years. Celebrating its 10-year anniversary this year, the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) has received more than 1.5 million complaints of cybercrime, ranging from online fraud and computer intrusion to economic espionage, money laundering, and child pornography. “This year marks the first decade of our partnership with NW3C addressing nearly 1.5 million Internet crime complaints to IC3,” said Bill Hinerman, FBI Unit Chief for IC3. “This partnership has increased law enforcement's ability to collect, analyze, and refer Internet crime complaints to our domestic and international law enforcement partners.” IC3 was established in May 2000 as a partnership between the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The organization gives victims of cybercrime a convenient and easy-to-use reporting mechanism that alerts authorities of suspected criminal or civil violations. IC3 provides law enforcement and regulatory agencies at all levels a central referral system for complaints involving Internet-related crimes. “Since its creation in 2000, we have seen the number of complaints coming into IC3 increase year after year. Cybercrime is not going away and, in fact, is only going to continue as criminals become savvier,” said Don Brackman, Director of the NW3C. “We are so proud to be partners with the FBI in operating IC3 to address this growing global issue.” To address the evolving area of cybercrime, IC3 implemented the Internet Complaint Search and Investigation System (ICSIS). ICSIS is a web-based software program available to approved agencies that enables users to search the IC3 complaint database, analyze data, and share case information with investigators across jurisdictions or nationally. IC3 also offers analytical support, training, and research to assist law enforcement with any needs they have in creating a case against cyber criminals. “No one would have thought 10 years ago that we would have as many reports of cybercrime as we have today,” Brackman said. “As the Internet keeps evolving and as criminals keep thinking up new ways to take advantage of the public, IC3 will continue to look for ways we can help combat these types of crimes.” For more information on the Internet Crime Complaint Center or to file a complaint, visit www.ic3.gov Nineteen Indicted in Massive Cybercrime Conspiracy Defendants Allegedly Defrauded Telecommunication Companies and Others of More Than $15 Million DALLAS—A federal grand jury in Dallas returned a superseding indictment this week charging 19 defendants in a massive cybercrime conspiracy, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. This indictment supersedes a September 2, 2009, indictment that charged nine of the defendants in the conspiracy.
Video = Tracking Internet Fraud Complaints - FBI's IC3 - VERY IMPORTANT INFO!!!
Cyberspace for Everyone, Part I There are all sorts of great things on the Internet, and there are some pitfalls as well. But can someone or some group just shut down the Internet? This broadcast is part of our radio show "FBI, This Week," which is broadcast on ABC Radio Networks Fraudulent Automated Clearing House (ACH) Transfers Connected to Malware and Work-at-Home ScamsFraudulent Automated Clearing House (ACH) Transfers Connected to Malware and Work-at-Home Scams As part of a continuing effort to identify the latest cyber crime trends and warn the public, the FBI today released the following information: Within the last several months, the FBI has seen a significant increase in fraud involving the exploitation of valid online banking credentials belonging to small and medium businesses, municipal governments, and school districts. FLORIDA SECRETARY
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