UKPA reports: A young computer hacker who carried out a sophisticated and lucrative online fraud operation to feed his gambling habit has been jailed. Alistair Peckover, 21, bought a Porsche, expensive watches and more than £30,000 worth of gold bullion using the proceeds from his complex scam. Detectives said he systematically defrauded legitimate online businesses…
Microsoft program to provide new way to report stolen data
Jordan Robertson of the Associated Press reports that Microsoft is spearheading a program that will allow researchers to report stolen credit card numbers and other personally identifiable or sensitive data they’ve found in the dark corners of the Internet. He reports: The new program is being managed by the National Cyber-Forensics & Training Alliance, a…
Police Make 18 26 Arrests In Connection With City ID Theft Ring
Vivian Lee reports: The New York City Police Department has arrested 18 people, mostly natives of Nigeria, who were allegedly in the business of stealing identities and stole at least $5 million. They allegedly affected more than 200 soldiers, including many of whom were unaware of what was happening, since they were serving overseas. Some…
NHS call centre tells patient: 'You cannot see the doctor, you’re dead'
One of the trumpeted benefits of electronic medical records is how they will speed up and improve healthcare. Of course, errors can happen even in non-electronic systems, but consider this story out of the UK, reported by Fred Attewill of Metro: Alan Campbell argued that he was very much alive but he was told to…
Interior loses CD with personal data for 7,500 federal employees
Alice Lipowicz reports: A compact disc that contains personally identifiable information for about 7,500 federal employees has been reported lost by the Interior Department’s shared services center. The incident occurred on or about May 26, when a procurement specialist at Interior’s National Business Center in Denver reported that the CD could not be located. The…
LA: Abortion ultrasound bills wins final legislative approval
The Louisiana House gave final legislative passage Wednesday morning to a bill that would require a woman to receive an obstetrics ultrasound prior to an abortion. Marsha Shuler reports: The House voted 79-0 to send the measure to Gov. Bobby Jindal’s desk for signing into law. Twenty-six representatives did not vote. Senate Bill 528 sponsored…