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Florida teen, two others charged in Twitter 'Bit-Con' hacking attack

  

Category:  News & Politics

Via:  perrie-halpern  •  4 years ago  •  9 comments

By:   Pete Williams and Brandy Zadrozny (NBC News)

Florida teen, two others charged in Twitter 'Bit-Con' hacking attack
A Florida teenager has been charged with carrying out the hacking attack on Twitter in mid-July in which the accounts of prominent people were taken over.

S E E D E D   C O N T E N T



Three people have been charged with carrying out the hacking attack on Twitter in mid-July in which the accounts of prominent people were taken over.

State authorities in Florida say 17-year-old Graham Ivan Clark "was the mastermind" of the attack. He now faces 30 state felony charges, and federal charges may also be filed.

Federal authorities also announced that Mason Sheppard, of Bognor Regis in the United Kingdom, was charged with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and the intentional access of a protected computer.

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3 suspects charged in Twitter hacking attack


Nima Fazeli of Orlando was charged by federal authorities with aiding and abetting the intentional access of a protected computer.

"This 'Bit-Con' was designed to steal money from regular Americans from all over the country, including here in Florida. This massive fraud was orchestrated right here in our backyard, and we will not stand for that," said Andrew Warren, Hillsborough state attorney.

Reached by phone Friday, Clark's mother, Emiliya Clark, said her son was innocent.

"I believe he didn't do it. I've spoken to him every day," she said. "I'm devastated."

Clark was arrested Friday morning following an intensive investigation by the FBI, IRS, Secret Service and the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

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Hack of high-profile Twitter accounts renews concerns election-security concerns


"This defendant lives here in Tampa, he committed the crime here, and he'll be prosecuted here," Warren said. Florida law allows minors to be charged as adults in financial fraud cases.

The accounts targeted in the attack included those belonging to Barack Obama, Joe Biden, Kanye West, Microsoft founder Bill Gates, and entrepreneur Elon Musk.

Messages coming from their accounts promised the recipients that their money would be doubled if they sent an amount in Bitcoin to a specific place. Several hundred people appeared to have responded, sending in tens of thousands of dollars.

"There is a false belief within the criminal hacker community that attacks like the Twitter hack can be perpetrated anonymously and without consequence," said U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson. "Today's charging announcement demonstrates that the elation of nefarious hacking into a secure environment for fun or profit will be short-lived."

Criminal conduct over the Internet may feel stealthy to the people who perpetrate it, but there is nothing stealthy about it," Anderson said. "In particular, I want to say to would-be offenders, break the law, and we will find you."


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CB
Professor Principal
1  CB    4 years ago
 "There is a false belief within the criminal hacker community that attacks like the Twitter hack can be perpetrated anonymously and without consequence," said U.S. Attorney David L. Anderson. "Today's charging announcement demonstrates that the elation of nefarious hacking into a secure environment for fun or profit will be short-lived." Criminal conduct over the Internet may feel stealthy to the people who perpetrate it, but there is nothing stealthy about it," Anderson said. "In particular, I want to say to would-be offenders, break the law, and we will find you."

I am really, really (relieved?) glad they caught these 'boogers.' Because it scared me that someone was phishing for information more than 'coin' during this election run-up cycle. I don't know how I feel about youth being in dig crap with local, state, and federal agencies, but—dang some of these young people are "gangsters" at this stuff and the money they swim in grants them tickets to the "high-life." So, now, . . . I guess, . . .here comes the pain!

 
 
 
Krishna
Professor Expert
1.1  Krishna  replied to  CB @1    4 years ago
I don't know how I feel about youth being in dig crap with local, state, and federal agencies,

Well, you're not alone. There are many people who feel that people should not be held responsible for their actions!

 
 
 
CB
Professor Principal
1.1.1  CB  replied to  Krishna @1.1    4 years ago

Hi Krishna! Well, you got me right betwixt the eyes with that one! Because silly kids messing up their lives with 'cases' and 'feds' bothers me. I mean the weak ones coming in get to learn the vernacular of 'the life'! On the other-hand, some of those boogers are straight "from jump-street" and I can't really feel sorry for them getting what they got coming to them!

 
 
 
zuksam
Junior Silent
1.2  zuksam  replied to  CB @1    4 years ago
I don't know how I feel about youth being in dig crap with local, state, and federal agencies,

They'll charge him and convict him but it's likely he will do little time if his record is clean he'll get a long ass probation, suspended sentence and if he doesn't screw up he'll be alright. If he gets caught drinking/drugging with his friends or other minor or major crimes they'll bring back the full sentence for this crime and he'll do serious time. He'll get his second chance but he'll have to walk the line.

 
 
 
Paula Bartholomew
Professor Participates
2  Paula Bartholomew    4 years ago

Say good bye to your youth kids.  You are going to be spending the rest of your lives (hopefully) behind bars as fresh meat except that you won't be fresh for long...pity.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
2.1  Ender  replied to  Paula Bartholomew @2    4 years ago

They will be recruited for a government hacking job.

 
 
 
Greg Jones
Professor Participates
2.1.1  Greg Jones  replied to  Ender @2.1    4 years ago

I'm sure the Democrats could us an operative with his talents.

 
 
 
Paula Bartholomew
Professor Participates
2.1.2  Paula Bartholomew  replied to  Ender @2.1    4 years ago

They have computers in prison.

 
 
 
Ender
Professor Principal
3  Ender    4 years ago
Messages coming from their accounts promised the recipients that their money would be doubled if they sent an amount in Bitcoin to a specific place. Several hundred people appeared to have responded, sending in tens of thousands of dollars

People really are stupid...

 
 

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