[ISN] Man pockets $8m running computer fraud ring

From: InfoSec News <alerts_at_private>
Date: Wed, 16 Feb 2011 02:46:17 -0600 (CST)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/02/16/computer_fraud_plea/

By Dan Goodin in San Francisco 
The Register
16th February 2011 

A New Hampshire man has admitted pocketing almost $8 million in a scheme 
that infected people's computers with software that forced their modems 
to surreptitiously dial premium phone numbers.

Asu Pala, 37, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit 
computer fraud and five counts of failing to filed a US income tax 
return. He was charged on April 2 and pleaded guilty 19 days later. The 
case was sealed until recently.

According to documents filed in US District Court in Massachusetts, Pala 
employed software developers who wrote and tested the programs and he 
later sent it to other co-conspirators. From 2003 through 2007, Pala's 
take in the ring was $7.94 million. At least 250 victims from Germany 
and possibly other European countries were duped. Victims, who 
prosecutors said didn't notice the charges and paid them, numbered more 
than 250.

Pala's cohorts rented premium phone numbers from German telephone 
companies. They stood to profit each time one of their numbers was 
called.

[...]


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Received on Wed Feb 16 2011 - 00:46:17 PST

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