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A How-Not-To Guide to Cyber-Extortion

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the he-doesn't-trust-cash dept.

TexasDex writes "The Register reports: Myron Tereshchuk, 42, of Maryland, pleaded guilty to "attempted extortion affecting commerce" for sending threatening messages to a competing patent firm, including a demand for $17 million in exchange for not revealing sensitive information. He was clever in hiding his tracks, the messages came from two different homes and a dentist's office, all of which turned out to be running unsecured WAPs. He also avoided a web bug sent by the firm, and managed to penetrate the company's computer system. But he made a few mistakes. First of all he was already a prime suspect due to "past altercations between Tereshchuk and the company". But "the clearest sign came when he issued the $17m extortion demand, and instructed the company to 'make the check payable to Myron Tereshchuk.'""

2 of 311 comments (clear)

  1. Why one shouldn't believe by vijaya_chandra · · Score: 0, Troll

    an editor/writer that posts an article with a title like 'A How-Not-To guid to cyber-extortion'

    Dumb Criminals June21st

  2. Re:Talking about high conviction rates ... by cpghost · · Score: 0, Troll

    Just wait until your name shows up on some computer-generated list of (probable) suspects.

    Oh, since when doesn't posting on /. qualify for suspect status?

    --
    cpghost at Cordula's Web.