Fergie's Tech Blog

Romanian Authorities Arrest Cyber Crime Suspects

Grant Gross writes on Computerworld UK:

Authorities have arrested more than 20 people in Romania who are suspected of running online fraud schemes, according to media reports.

The Tuesday arrests were confirmed by the US Federal Bureau of Investigation, which has been working with Romanian officials on cybercrime in recent months. The FBI would say only that the agency is aware of the arrests and because "this is an ongoing matter, we will have no further comment at this time."

Romanian news reports suggested the number of people arrested there was between 21 and 24. Mediafax.ro reported that the suspects were accused of stealing identities online, in apparent phishing or auction-fraud schemes, and that they had taken $640,000 (£319,999) from non-Romanians. Several US websites, including eBay, were targets of the fraud, according to news reports.

The group's alleged leader, Romeo Chita, was arrested in an apartment owned by a Romanian lawmaker, Mediafax.ro reported.

posted by Fergie @ 7/17/2008 12:19:00 PM