Slashdot Mirror


Tech Fraud Beating Out Social Engineering

The Walking Dude writes "BBC News asked Frank Abagnale if technology is driving the old-school conman into extinction. 'Mr Abagnale really ought to know', as the 2002 movie Catch Me If You Can was based on his life. He served five years of a 12 year prison sentence for check fraud before being offered a job with the FBI. 'There may, after all, be life in the old con yet.'"

4 of 102 comments (clear)

  1. Selective prejudice... by Zaphod2016 · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    In his place: countless thousands hunched over computers, stealing bank details and exploiting technological weakness - without witnesses, and often for hire.

    Everyone knows that Jews are good with money. Its in their blood.

    Of course he ate the chicken- he *is* black after all.

    Which of these quotes is published as fact by the BBC...

    ...in 1936?

    ...in 1956?

    ...in 2006?

    Human prejudice is a curious thing to us aliens...

    1. Re:Selective prejudice... by mangu · · Score: 0, Offtopic
      It seems you're asserting there aren't thousands of people running scams using computers.


      Well, are you trying to assert that there aren't thousands of Jews who are good with money, or thousands of blacks who eat chicken? The point about fighting prejudice is that you shouldn't judge everyone by a sub-group. Even if all maffiosi are Italian it doesn't mean that all, or a majority of, Italians are maffiosi.

  2. Don't worry VISTA, TPM, & DRM will save us all by Proudrooster · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Citizens, there is no need for panic. Microsoft is about to unveil the most secure O/S that mankind has ever known. No longer will script kiddes or nefarious software authors be able to take over your grandma's computer. This priveledge will be reserved exclusively by the NSA, however that is another story.

    Good citiens, upgrade as soon as Vista with TPM (Trusted Computing), and DRM (Digital Restrictions) are available and the only thing left to do will be to destroy your old computer so it will never trouble anyone again. If we can get rid of passwords and rely exclusively on biometrics for user authentication the world will be even safer. Come on MS, hurry up and get Vista shipped so you can save mankind from these techno criminals!

    Laugh, it's funny.....

  3. Re:Things change by RyuuzakiTetsuya · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    That's exactly the point.

    Ultimate Fighting is more popular and more relevant than boxing.

    --
    Non impediti ratione cogitationus.