Articles in FBI Scam & Fraud Alerts
Cupcake baker warns businesses of costly online scam!
A local baker wants to warn other businesses about a scam in which someone almost cheated her out of a thousand dollars’ worth of cupcakes.
“I’ve had big orders, but not that big — it’s huge,” Sarah Johnson recalled herself saying when she received an e-mail order for 450 cupcakes.
Johnson works out of her Cobb County home producing “Sarah’s Heavenly Cupcakes.” She was also surprised the …
Knoxville Resident Tracey Hill Sentenced to Five Years of Probation for Computer Fraud
KNOXVILLE—Tracey Hill, 38, of Knoxville, Tennessee, was sentenced today to serve five years’ probation by the Honorable Thomas W. Phillips, U.S. District Judge, in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Tennessee at Knoxville. She was also ordered to pay $31,000 in restitution. Hill pleaded guilty on February 17, 2010 to an information charging her with intentionally exceeding her authorized access to a …
El Paso Businessman Indicted for Unauthorized Computer Access Waives Arraignment and Pleads Not Guilty
United States Attorney Robert Pitman and FBI Special Agent in Charge Mark Morgan today announced that a federal grand jury in El Paso has indicted 37-year-old Joseph Paul Taylor in connection with an unauthorized computer intrusion.
On March 28, 2012, a federal grand jury returned a three-count indictment charging Taylor with two counts of computer fraud and one count of making a false statement to federal …
Three Individuals Sentenced to Prison for Participating in International Child Pornography Ring
WASHINGTON—Three men were sentenced to prison today in Los Angeles for their participation in an international child pornography ring, announced Assistant Attorney General Lanny A. Breuer of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division, U.S. Attorney André Birotte Jr. of the Central District of California, and Assistant Director in Charge Steve Martinez of the FBI’s Los Angeles Field Office.
Andrew Neil Scott, 31, of Flint, Michigan, was sentenced …
Justice Department and FBI Raise Awareness of Disaster Fraud Hotline
Washington – The Department of Justice, the FBI and the National Center for Disaster Fraud (NCDF) remind the public there is a potential for disaster fraud in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Suspected fraudulent activity pertaining to relief efforts associated with the recent series of tornadoes in the Midwest and South should be reported to the NCDF hotline at 866-720-5721. The hotline is staffed …
Six Hackers in the United States and Abroad Charged for Crimes Affecting Over One Million Victims
Five computer hackers in the United States and abroad were charged today, and a sixth pled guilty, for computer hacking and other crimes. The six hackers identified themselves as aligned with the group Anonymous, which is a loose confederation of computer hackers and others, and/or offshoot groups related to Anonymous, including “Internet Feds,” “LulzSec,” and “AntiSec.”
RYAN ACKROYD, a/k/a “kayla,” a/k/a “lol,” a/k/a “lolspoon”; JAKE DAVIS, …
Member of Large-Scale Identity Theft Ring Sentenced
NEWARK—A Bergen County, New Jersey woman who was a member of a large-scale and sophisticated identity theft scheme was sentenced to 41 months in prison today, U.S. Attorney Paul J. Fishman announced.
Jung-Sook Ko, a/k/a “Grace Lim,” 48, of Ridgefield, New Jersey, pleaded guilty on November 15, 2011 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Patty Shwartz to an information charging her with conspiracy to unlawfully produce identification documents …
At RSA Conference, FBI Director Discusses Cyber Threats
Today at the annual RSA computer security conference in San Francisco, Director Mueller talked about cyber threats to U.S. national security, the FBI’s role in addressing these threats, and the increasing importance of public-private sector partnerships.
Mueller said the threats include the use of the Internet by terrorists to “grow their business and to connect with like-minded individuals.” He also touched on another national security concern—the …
West Topsham Man Arraigned for Possession of Child Pornography
The Office of the United States Attorney for the District of Vermont stated that on February 16, 2012, Foster E. Phelps, 38, of West Topsham, Vermont, pleaded not guilty in United States District Court to a single-count indictment charging him with possessing images of child pornography. Magistrate Judge John M. Conroy ordered Phelps released to the supervision of the United States Probation Office. Phelps’ will …
Fugitive from England Indicted for Illegal Firearms, Document Fraud, Identity Theft
SPRINGFIELD, MO—Beth Phillips, United States Attorney for the Western District of Missouri, announced that additional charges have been filed against a fugitive from England who was arrested in Ozark, Mo., and indicted by a federal grand jury today for illegally possessing firearms, document fraud, and identity theft.
Edward John Maher, also known as Michael Maher, 56, of Ozark, was charged in a three-count indictment returned by …
Smithboro Man Sentenced to 498 Months for Production and Possession of Child Pornography
Darrell L. Stewart, Jr., 42, of Smithboro, IL, received a forty year sentence following his plea of guilty to three counts of production of child pornography and one count of possession of child pornography, the United States Attorney for the Southern District of Illinois, Stephen R. Wigginton, announced today. Upon release from imprisonment, Stewart will be on supervised release for the remainder of his life, …
East Providence Man Detained on Federal Charges of Manufacturing, Distributing, and Possessing Child Pornography
PROVIDENCE, RI—David Crisostomi, 36, of East Providence, R.I., was ordered detained by U.S. District Court Magistrate Judge Lincoln D. Almond today on federal charges of manufacturing, possessing, and distributing child pornography, it was announced by United States Attorney Peter F. Neronha; Colonel Steven G. O’Donnell, Superintendent of the Rhode Island State Police; and Richard DesLauriers, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Boston Field Office.
Crisostomi …
York Man Charged with Child Pornography Offenses
The United States Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Pennsylvania announced today the indictment of Lloyd Hershey Wenger, age 45, of York, Pennsylvania. The indictment charges Wenger with distribution, receipt, and possession of child pornography.
According to United States Attorney Peter J. Smith, Wenger had contact with an undercover FBI agent and shared numerous image files that depicted children engaged in sexually explicit conduct that …
Slidell Man Pleads Guilty to Possessing Child Pornography
NEW ORLEANS—FORREST B. SMITH, age 77, a resident of Slidell, Louisiana, pleaded guilty today before U.S. District Judge Kurt D. Engelhardt to crimes involving the sexual exploitation of children, announced U.S. Attorney Jim Letten. Specifically, SMITH pleaded guilty to possessing images depicting the sexual exploitation and victimization of children.
According to courts documents, SMITH downloaded and obtained 21,877 images and 1,498 videos depicting minors, including infants, …
Looking for Love? Beware of Online Dating Scams
Millions of Americans visit online dating websites every year, hoping to find a companion or even a soul mate.
But today, on Valentine’s Day, we want to warn you that criminals use these sites, too, looking to turn the lonely and vulnerable into fast money through a variety of scams.
These criminals—who also troll social media sites and chat rooms in search of romantic victims—usually claim to …
Bogus “FBI Funds Notifications” E-Mails
The Baltimore FBI office is receiving a large number of telephone calls concerning e-mails supposedly from the FBI Director, the Baltimore Special Agent in Charge, or other top Bureau officials. These e-mails claim that you are the “rightful beneficiary” of large sums of money wired from the Central Bank of Nigeria but intercepted by the FBI and that you can release the funds by obtaining …
Cyber Alerts for Parents & Kids Tip #2: Beware of ‘Sextortion’
At the beginning of her summer break in June 2005, a 15-year-old Florida girl logged onto her computer and received a startling instant message. The sender, whom the girl didn’t know, said he had seen her photo online and that he wanted her to send him pictures—of her in the shower. When the girl didn’t comply, the sender showed he knew where she lived and …
Former Owner of Illinois Technology Company Sentenced to Serve 30 Months in Prison for Role in Multi-State Scheme to Defraud Federal E-Rate Program
WASHINGTON—A former owner of two Illinois-based technology companies was sentenced today to serve 30 months in prison for her participation in a conspiracy to defraud the federal E-Rate program, the Department of Justice announced. Gloria Harper was sentenced by U.S. District Court Judge Carl J. Barbier.
Harper was charged in U.S. District Court in New Orleans on Nov. 18, 2010, with conspiring to defraud the E-Rate …
Brooklyn Man Charged with Production of Child Pornography
Loretta E. Lynch, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, and Janice K. Fedarcyk, Assistant Director in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation, New York Field Office, today announced that Taleek Brooks was arrested last night for production of child pornography.1 The defendant is scheduled to be arraigned this afternoon before United States Magistrate Judge Joan M. Azrack, at the U.S. Courthouse, 225 …
