Jaimie Nicholson - NW3C Fairmont Tuesday, November 7, 2006
A Florida man has been charged with hacking into two computer systems, establishing a "bot" network of compromised computers, and launching a distributed denial of service (DDOS) attack against Akamai Technologies. According to the United States Attorney’s Office, John Bombard has been charged in federal court with two counts of intentionally accessing a protected computer without authorization. The information alleges that in June of 2004 Bombard launched the DDOS attack causing a significant increase in web traffic to a number of the Cambridge-based company’s domain name system (DNS) servers. This attack caused a widespread loss of service to users by consuming the bandwidth of the network and overloading its computational resources. Affected Akamai customers had access to their web sites slowed or rendered inaccessible for a period of time. Many of these customers filed complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
The information also alleges that the attack against Akamai originated from a “bot” network. A “bot” is a computer program that seeks out and places itself on vulnerable computers and runs silently in the background until it receives instructions from a controlling computer. The information alleges that Bombard compromised the systems using a variant of the GAOBOT worm, a software program capable of reproducing itself and spreading from one computer to the next over a network.
If convicted, Bombard faces up the two years imprisonment to be followed by one year of supervised release and a $200,000 fine on each of the charges.
Jaimie Nicholson - IC3 Success Story Wednesday, June 28, 2006
Member Agency: Complaints referred to Miami Dade Police Dept., FL Dept. of Agriculture and Consumer Services, FL Office of the Attorney General, FL Dept. of Law Enforcement; prosecuted by the United States Attorney for the Southern District of FL
Analysts at the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) were pleased to learn that a lengthy and complex case had finally been closed. Martin Haber, the subject of numerous complaints over a two-year span, has pled guilty to federal charges of mail and wire fraud. Haber was the owner and operator of a business named South Dixie Rare Coins in Miami, FL. Haber used the eBay auction site to offer collectibles and rare coins which he never delivered. The initial investigation began after several IC3 complaints against Haber were referred to local and state agencies in Florida. Despite two arrests by local law enforcement for his fraudulent activity, Haber continued to sell on eBay.
While the IC3 continued to receive complaints about Haber, victims were filing with other consumer reporting agencies and local police departments as well. In January of 2005, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) joined in the investigation. In all, 188 complaints were received totaling more than $400,000. The FBI investigation revealed that Haber used eBay accounts belonging to friends, family members and business associates to continue his scheme. By assuming the identities of legitimate eBay sellers, Haber was able to hide his true history from potential buyers. While many of the accounts Haber used were suspended by eBay because of buyer complaints, he continued to sell on the site until federal search warrants were executed on his home and business.
Haber will be sentenced for his crimes in August of 2006. At that time he will face a statutory minimum of twenty years for each of the six counts of wire fraud and one count of mail fraud, fines of up to $250,000, and can be ordered to make full restitution to the victims.
Deputy Chief Monty Mohr - Georgia Governor's Office of Consumer Affairs Monday, October 17, 2005
The new web site is terrific and the price of admission couldn’t be better! Direct access to the Internet Crime Complaint database is already helping my agency solve crimes.
The Georgia Governor’s Office of Consumer Affairs is responsible for enforcement of computer and computer network related fraud laws. Our very first online search of the Internet Crime Complaint database through the NW3C member website resulted in the discovery of new information linking an organized crime ring to a previously unknown mail drop. In fact, each time I set up a new user password for another investigator, they too report positive first time search results! We now include checking the member website and the Internet Crime Complaint database as part of our criminal pattern case screening process. Thanks again NW3C for what you do!
A. Ricker Hamilton - Maine Department of Human Services Friday, October 7, 2005
Financial exploitation is one of the most challenging and frustrating crimes that Adult Protective Services professionals face. Your training has already made a significant difference in the way our department handles these cases. Because of your class, we have been energized with an increased awareness of the needs of the law enforcement personnel and prosecutors with whom we work. In just four weeks since the training we received from the NW3C, we have referred two substantial cases of financial crimes against seniors to our partners in law enforcement, and their response has been outstanding. We now communicate with each other on a regular basis and approach problems together. Because of the networking opportunities at the training and the multi-agency modeling, new partnerships were formed and new allies found that are already visibly serving the senior victims of financial exploitation in our state.
Duane Fry - Chair NASAA SID Working Group Wednesday, August 24, 2005
I want to take a few moments and extend to a BIG THANK YOU to you and your staff for all the hard work you guys did on getting the New SID up and running. That was a monumental task and you guys performed a major miracle in getting the new server purchased, installed, the data converted, and addressing the few minor bugs my committee found when we tested the system.
I cannot thank you enough. We have had very few problems with the New SID and you have immediately corrected those. Everyone seems happy with the new system and we have received no complaints.
Thanks again for all your assistance.
Duane Fry
Tony Owens - Mountain Region Monday, August 15, 2005
Not a board meeting goes by without senior staff telling us how fortunate we all are to have folks like you to support us. Now it is my turn to tell you how much I have appreciated everything you have done. Having been in law enforcement for over 36 years of my life, I have come to know many organizations that work hard to help this profession in combating crime. Without the slightest hesitation, I can assure you that no other organization has helped law enforcement and regulatory agencies throughout this country as much as the National White Collar Crime Center. The success of the Center rests not only in our leadership. Any organization's true success can be measured only in the dedication and commitment of every individual in the company. Know that NW3C is truly the standard that many organizations strive to become.
Student from FREA Class - FREA Class held in Kalispell, MT Saturday, August 7, 2004
I have used information learned in this FREA course & the FIPS course to form a state economic & cyber crime task force involving Federal, State, and Local enforcement, regulatory agencies, and prosecutors. Your courses are invaluable to small, local law enforcement.
