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Note To Criminals — Don't Call Tech Support

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the caught-short dept.

Billosaur writes "Darwin Awards, here he comes: Ars Technica has up a story about a would-be identity thief who did himself in by calling tech support about printer drivers. Timothy Short must have thought he'd hit the mother-lode when he stole a PC and a Digimarc printer from the Missouri Department of Revenue, perhaps with dreams of cranking out thousands of fake ids. Problem: he could not unlock the computer he stole and without the necessary drivers, he couldn't use the printer. Ever resourceful, Short called Digimarc tech support a couple of days later (twice), which brought him to the attention of a Secret Service agent, who recognized his voice from a recording of the calls. Short now faces a $250,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison."

7 of 266 comments (clear)

  1. Did the printer castrate him? by evildarkdeathclicheo · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Um, Darwin awards? Unfortunately, criminals are still allowed to procreate and spread their genes. So unless he's either dead or rendered an eunuch, we're still screwed. -W

    1. Re:Did the printer castrate him? by El_Muerte_TDS · · Score: 3, Insightful

      Not all dumb people are criminals. Well, not unless being stupid is outlawed.

  2. idiot. by andreyvul · · Score: 4, Insightful

    use driverguide or google, ya moron!

    --
    proud caffeine whore
  3. Note To Non-Criminals -- Don't Call Tech Support by Lust · · Score: 5, Insightful

    No one should call Tech Support - it's too frustrating.

  4. Re:Why ?? by Saija · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Right spanish is my native language and thanks for the tip.
    Muchas gracias viejo !

    --
    Slashdot ya no es que lo era! ;)
  5. Just the tip of the (criminal element) iceberg? by uofitorn · · Score: 3, Insightful

    This is funny and all. But I can't help but wonder how often this kind of thing goes on that we aren't aware of and is perpetrated by non-Darwin candidates. I mean, news is only "news" when it's interesting and unusual (given that it's usually reported by a for-profit institution).

    --
    "What kind of music do pirates listen to?" -Paul Maud'dib
    "Yeeeaaarrrrr n' Bee!!" -Stilgar, Leader of Sietch Tabr
  6. would've been caught anyhow by viscus · · Score: 3, Insightful

    Had he been able to get the printer working with his computer, he probably would've promptly made a posting to his local Facebook network reading: "HAY GUYS I CAN HOOK YOU UP W/ FAKE ID LOL" and been busted anyway.