Phisher gets 8.5 years

2009-06-01

Helen Martin

Virus Bulletin, UK

Editor: Helen Martin

Abstract

Phisher sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for phishing scams that netted him approximately $700,000.

A Romanian man living in the United States has been sentenced to eight and a half years in prison for phishing scams that netted him approximately $700,000 from 7,000 individuals.

Through various phishing techniques, Sergiu D. Popa stole names and addresses, bank account numbers, PINs, credit card details and social security information and used these details to siphon money away from his victims’ accounts. He also offered phishing toolkits for sale (for the bargain price of $1,500), complete with step-by-step instructions on to how to use them to maximum effect. 23-year-old Popa is reported to have begun his phishing schemes as a youngster as long ago as 2000. On handing out his sentence, Judge John Tunheim, said: ‘There needs to be a deterrent to others who are trying similar crimes over the Internet.’

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