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Phone Hacking Group Is Trading Fake Bomb Threats For Bitcoin (softpedia.com)

Posted by timothy on from the guy-I-knew-in-high-school-would-do-it-for-free dept.

An anonymous reader writes: French police arrested a suspect in connection to a group of hackers that are selling fake bomb threats for Bitcoin. The group has been terrorizing cities in France, UK, USA, and Australia for months. Police suspect they are doing this by using a anonymity XMPP service to hack into VoIP phones and make the fake bomb threats and swatting calls. The group is charging $5 worth of Bitcoin for schools and company headquarters, $10 worth of Bitcoin for courthouses and entire school districts, $20 worth of Bitcoin for sports events and major conventions, and $50 worth of Bitcoin for "major" sports events. Additionally, for an extra $5 worth of Bitcoin, the group would also frame someone else for the incident.

39 comments

  1. I think you dropped a decimal by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 4, Interesting

    >> for an extra $5 worth of Bitcoin

    I think you dropped a decimal. If not, these criminals are dumber than they sound: stealing a pocketful of candy at the neighborhood store is $5 worth and won't land you in prison.

    >> are selling fake bomb threats

    And what's a "fake bomb threat"? (A "bomb threat" is one where someone calls in claiming to have planted a bomb.) Is a "fake bomb threat" where someone just pretends to make a call...?

    1. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by neminem · · Score: 2

      I agree with your first point. $5 is laughably tiny. Bullies at elementary schools routinely steal more than $5 from other elementary schoolers.

      I don't agree with your second point: a "bomb threat" is when someone calls in claiming to have planted a bomb... whether or not they did, in fact, actually plant a bomb; they may well have. A "fake bomb threat" is a bomb threat in which they explicitly didn't actually plant the bomb but claim they did. How is that not clear?

    2. Re: I think you dropped a decimal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      It would be clearer to write "fake bomb-threat"

    3. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And what's a "fake bomb threat"? (A "bomb threat" is one where someone calls in claiming to have planted a bomb.) Is a "fake bomb threat" where someone just pretends to make a call...?

      They call in the threat but say the bomb is fake.

    4. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by pr0fessor · · Score: 1

      Actually $50 is laughable amount depending on where the threat takes place it could be a felony with jail-time. $5k worth of business in the US would likely land them 100+ felonies and if they are not concurrent... that's a long time.

    5. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by PopeRatzo · · Score: 4, Funny

      I think you dropped a decimal. If not, these criminals are dumber than they sound

      They make up for it in volume.

      --
      You are welcome on my lawn.
    6. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      The perpetrators are probably located in a third world country where $5 is a lot of spending power and where the risk of being caught by the authorities is nearly 0, and can be further mitigated with bribes.

    7. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by SumDog · · Score: 1

      And if they lived in said impoverished part of the world, how exactly would they convert their bitcoin to currency?

    8. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by TWX · · Score: 1

      Catalog purchases? With the advent of businesses that are willing to accept Bitcoin for purchases this could be a fairly good way to get some kinds of goods, which would free up local fiat currency for things like rent or food or bribes.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    9. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by TWX · · Score: 1

      Given the large number of incidents that have transpired lately, the opportunity-cost for someone wanting to close their school for a day or harass a business or event or building with very little chance of being caught is extraordinarily low. If the end-perpetrator actually is in another country with little to no chance of being caught, or if they can script this so that third-party computers are used to actually make the threat then they can rake in money from lots of disgruntled people each wanting to make small-scale havoc. It might be impossible to catch those purchasing the attacks other than if they end up inadvertently contacting law enforcement sting operations by accident.

      --
      Do not look into laser with remaining eye.
    10. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      on the other hand if they know the cost of the service, can't start investigating the owners of bitcoin wallets in the areas affected and possibly track down and arrest the person requesting the threat?

    11. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by BronsCon · · Score: 1

      This would crack me right the hell up. "Yeah, uh... Hi, I run a business where people pay me to call in fake bomb threats. Someone paid me to call you. There may or may not be a fake bomb somewhere in your building. If there is, don't worry, it's fake. Thanks for helping me make $5 off some poor sap, have a nice day."

      I don't think there's much risk in that.

      --
      APK quotes people (including myself) without context and should not be trusted. Just thought you should know.
    12. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by dissy · · Score: 1

      I think you dropped a decimal. If not, these criminals are dumber than they sound

      I would assume "$5 worth of bitcoin" maybe should be "5 bitcoins", which is about $2000 USD at the moment.

      Assuming that the dollar amount was meant to be the bitcoin amount, that would translate:

      The group is charging $5 worth of Bitcoin for schools and company headquarters, $10 worth of Bitcoin for courthouses and entire school districts, $20 worth of Bitcoin for sports events and major conventions, and $50 worth of Bitcoin for "major" sports events. Additionally, for an extra $5 worth of Bitcoin, the group would also frame someone else for the incident.

      To:
      The group is charging $2000 for schools and company headquarters, $4000 for courthouses and entire school districts, $8000 for sports events and major conventions, and $20000 for "major" sports events. Additionally, for an extra $2000, the group would also frame someone else for the incident.

      That would at least seem a bit more in line with what zero-day exploits are sold for and similar hacking services, even if it still sounds (to me) way too low for the risk involved.

    13. Re: I think you dropped a decimal by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Can Bitcoin even resolve down to the $5 range?

    14. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by gl4ss · · Score: 1

      put it on a card and take out at atm.

      you think slums don't have atm's? in a not so impoverished place over here the smallest you can take out from atm is about 2 bucks worth of money and that will pay for food for a day.

      --
      world was created 5 seconds before this post as it is.
    15. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by xxxJonBoyxxx · · Score: 1

      Thanks for the translation!

    16. Re: I think you dropped a decimal by dissy · · Score: 1

      Yes, you can divide a bitcoin down to 8 decimal places.

      $5 is roughly 0.01237 bitcoin ($4.997)

      The smallest value you can represent is 0.00000001 of a bitcoin, which is currently $0.00000405 USD, or about 4 ten thousandths of a cent.

    17. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by dissy · · Score: 1

      Yea sorry for the messy view of it. I meant to only have the translated line in italics, and to delete the original when I was done using it as a reference.

      I guess that will learn me to not use preview

    18. Re:I think you dropped a decimal by allo · · Score: 1

      The irony: Tell someone a bomb is fake and they will have a bomb alert anyway. People are paranoid. Okay, if something looks like an bomb ... but when you mention to some security guard, that there is no bomb in your briefcase ... it should be clear, that you just want to be left alone.

  2. Oh, your Inet connection isn't working? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    That'll be $50.00 please. Bitcoin only. Thank you for your business. Ha ha ha ha ha, asshole.

    1. Re:Oh, your Inet connection isn't working? by U2xhc2hkb3QgU3Vja3M · · Score: 0

      How do you sent Bitcoins if your Internet connection isn't working?

      You should have used Dogecoins instead!

  3. Shows initiative by Bruce66423 · · Score: 1

    One has to admire such entrepreneurship. After all, that what made America great...

    1. Re:Shows initiative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      yup, +10 on the dumbfuck scale

    2. Re:Shows initiative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      Personally, they need to be dragged out into the street and have their head stomped in. This shit creates a huge waste of time and resources for all parties involved except for the perpetrators.

    3. Re:Shows initiative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      One has to admire such entrepreneurship. After all, that what made America great...

      Speaking of "great" moments in American history, labeling this bullshit as entrepreneurial is akin to labeling the slave owner as "resourceful".

    4. Re:Shows initiative by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      And when it turns out to be a group of 12 year old kids that story will play great in the news, too!

  4. Yes, but that's not very scary by CajunArson · · Score: 1

    Calling somebody up and saying there's a fake bomb isn't that scary. Do they charge extra to pretend it's a real bomb?

    --
    AntiFA: An abbreviation for Anti First Amendment.
    1. Re:Yes, but that's not very scary by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1

      Calling somebody up and saying there's a fake bomb isn't that scary. Do they charge extra to pretend it's a real bomb?

      If they call a school (even if they said it was a fake bomb), the school will most likely treat the situation as if there is a real bomb in play out of an abundance of caution and also to CYA. People roll their eyes whenever a school evacuates and think 'Geeze...another fake bomb threat", but sure as the world, if a REAL bomb ever goes off, then everyone is ready to barbeque the superintendent of the school and everyone lawyers up.

      Damned if you do and damned if you don't....

  5. Finally have to take her shopping by JustNiz · · Score: 1

    >> $50 worth of Bitcoin for "major" sports events

    At that price I can imagine there would be a ton of wives and girlfriends trying to put a stop to most football on TV.

    1. Re:Finally have to take her shopping by GNious · · Score: 1

      >> $50 worth of Bitcoin for "major" sports events

      At that price I can imagine there would be a ton of wives and girlfriends trying to put a stop to most football on TV.

      Why? French wifes and girlfriends might like seeing 22 sweaty men run around on a field.

    2. Re:Finally have to take her shopping by daremonai · · Score: 1

      But they'll run even faster if they think there's a bomb.

  6. Re:They're not the criminals here by GLMDesigns · · Score: 0

    Republicans raped a woman in your building because her son got SWATTED?

    Link please. Cause I think you're trolling sackl of sh!t

    --
    If you're scared of your govt then you need to further restrict its powers
    Vote 3rd Party in 2016 and beyond
  7. TaaS by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Terrorism as a Service.

    Truly, the bomb threats aren't scary. People serious about blowing things don't make phone calls to help potential victims escape.

    What IS scary is that such a powerful arm of the government (law enforcement) can be moved for as little as $5.
    Looks like the police need training on social engineering countermeasures.

  8. Indeed by Bruce66423 · · Score: 1

    My point precisely...

  9. You must be young by Bruce66423 · · Score: 2

    The pattern of IRA terrorism in the UK was that almost all bombs were preceded by warnings, complete with passwords to confirm their authenticity, with the result that the number of injuries and deaths were relatively low. Similarly until 911, hijacking always ended in a negotiated exchange or similar, and never the crashing of the plane - which is why the hijackers on that day weren't swarmed over - unless that's what happened to the one in Pennsylvania. Given that the senior counter terrorism officials are used to this model, it remains possible to tweak their tails with false bomb threats. And if you are in charge when such a threat is received, it is... interesting to choose to ignore it.

  10. Where is the NSA when you need them? by currently_awake · · Score: 1

    This is a perfect chance for the NSA to prove they actually do something to protect America. People making bomb threats (Terrorists!), for money (new espresso maker), lots of good publicity, and they already have a world wide network monitoring the internet.

  11. what... the.... fuck? by KingRatMass · · Score: 1

    The term is Phreaking for fuck's sake! Jesus H Jumping Christ on a rusty pogostick... Who the fuck writes the summaries around here? This is the 21st century version of beige boxing a bomb threat, with a novel method of payment for the rendered service.

  12. Hacker for hire by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    I met Gabby in 2013 , he is a professional security analyst and certified hacker. the time I met him he already was certified since 2009 and he is very good at testing securities. should you ever have a project you need to test if it is totally secure, you should contact him by sending a mail to leehacks92@gmail.com, I bet he is competent and savvy enough to solve your problem whatever it might be.