11 charged in national card-hacking ring
Published: Wed, Aug. 06, 2008 12:30AM
Modified Wed, Aug. 06, 2008 02:04AM
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closeNEW YORK -- The Department of Justice announced Tuesday that it had charged 11 people in connection with the hacking of nine major U.S. retailers and the theft and sale of more than 40 million credit and debit card numbers.
It is thought to be the largest hacking and identity-theft case prosecuted by the Justice Department. The indictment alleges that the suspects charged hacked into the wireless computer networks of retailers including TJ Maxx, BJ's Wholesale Club, OfficeMax, Barnes & Noble, Sports Authority and DSW. The breaches were disclosed in 2007.
Three of the defendants are U.S. citizens, one is from Estonia, three are from the Ukraine, two are from China, and one is from Belarus. One is only known by an alias online.
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"They used sophisticated computer hacking techniques ... that gathered enormous quantities of personal financial data," U.S. Attorney General Michael Mukasey said in prepared remarks. "They caused widespread losses by banks, retailers, and consumers."
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