Hacker’s Spelling Error Foils Billion Dollar Bank Heist
A spelling mistake in an online bank transfer instruction helped prevent a nearly $1 billion heist involving the Bangladesh central bank and the New York Federal Reserve, banking officials said.Unknown hackers still managed to get away with about $80 million, one of the largest known bank thefts in history. Four requests to transfer a total of about $81 million to the Philippines went through, but a fifth, for $20 million, to a Sri Lankan non-profit organization was held up because the hackers misspelled the name of the NGO, Shalika Foundation… [Reuters]
Boston Store Employee Beaten by Shoplifting Suspect
A Boston Store loss prevention officer was threatened with being shot and knocked unconscious Wednesday evening as she tried to stop three shoplifting suspects, police said. The loss prevention officer tried to stop three people after one of them put on a pair of boots and left the store without paying for them, authorities said. Police said Rache T. Boyd, 21, of Madison, was pushing a baby in a stroller in the West Towne Mall parking lot and let go of the stroller to approach the security guard. As she did so, the stroller, with the child in it, rolled toward an area where cars were coming and going… [Channel3000.com]
Employee Admits to $240K Theft from Landover Company
A man who stole $240,000 from the Landover company he worked for lied on his job application and then lied about business leads to his employer, federal authorities said. James Charlton Davis III, 57, of Anderson, SC, pleaded guilty Tuesday to wire fraud. According to his plea agreement, from May 7, 2012 to March 13, 2013, Davis was the director of the electrical division for a Landover firm that provided construction and preconstruction services to federal agencies. When applying for his job, Davis said he had earned a Ph.D. from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but he had not attended MIT. Part of his duties were to develop new business for the company… [Patch.com]
Man Sentenced for ID Theft, Counterfeiting Checks
A 24-year-old Jacksonville man was sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in an identity theft and counterfeit check scheme. Travis Ware pleaded guilty on Nov. 12, 2015. Two co-defendants, David Lee Mitchell and Hezekiah Williams, have pleaded guilty to attempted bank fraud, possession of counterfeit business checks, and aggravated identity theft. They remain in federal custody pending a sentencing date. According to court documents, troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol pulled over a vehicle occupied by Ware. Mitchell and Williams. During the traffic stop, the troopers reported seeing marijuana inside the SUV. A search revealed 25 counterfeit business checks made out to various individuals and 15 forms of identification from 7 different people. Many of the names on the identification documents matched those printed on the counterfeit checks… [News4JAX]
Jefferson County DA Investigating Shoplifting Ring
The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office is investigating what it’s calling one of the largest shoplifting rings in state history. Working with local police departments, the DA’s office says it has uncovered more than $55,000 in merchandise stolen from local stores. According to investigators, the alleged shoplifters would steal items like lawn and garden care equipment from businesses, then sell them online or at flea markets. Local business owners say they aren’t surprised to hear of the bust… [WIAT.com]
