Joseph Cox reports:
This article was produced in collaboration with Court Watch, an independent outlet that unearths overlooked court records.
Authorities charged a man from Baltimore on Monday with allegedly running a so-called TLO data service, a tool that makes it incredibly easy for hackers and other criminals to dox nearly anyone in America quickly and for cheap. Chouby Charleron allegedly sold the personal identifying information (PII), including Social Security numbers, of more than 5,000 victims, according to recently unsealed court records.
The news shows the continued use of TLO data services in the digital underground, a practice that I first revealed in August. The tools, which are often automated, take their name from the powerful TLOxp data service owned by credit bureau TransUnion which debt collectors, law enforcement, and other sectors are able to access. Although these services don’t always necessarily source their data from TLOxp itself, in this case Charleron’s co-conspirators allegedly used the obtained data to carry out credit card fraud. I’ve also found these services advertised to groups of violent criminals that hack, rob, and steal from one another and outside victims. Targets have included YouTubers, high profile celebrities, politicians, and seemingly ordinary people.
Read more at 404 Media.