We’ve got some good news, two people charged with phishing and vishing and scams to boot

We’ve got two charged in some phishing attempts and vishing attempts and schemes to boot

We’ve covered phishing and vishing on the Security Box, and I recently came across an article from Brian Krebs that talked about two guys being charged in this field. I’m also going to link in the upcoming security box to this, but it is always good to talk about some of these things, even if the show notes mention it in passing.

Two young men from the eastern United States have been hit with identity theft and conspiracy charges for allegedly stealing bitcoin and social media accounts
by tricking employees at wireless phone companies into giving away credentials needed to remotely access and modify customer account information.

The article also names the two:

Prosecutors say Jordan K. Milleson, 21 of Timonium, Md. and 19-year-old Kingston, Pa. resident Kyell A. Bryan hijacked social media and bitcoin accounts
using a mix of voice phishing or “vishing” attacks and “
SIM swapping,” a form of fraud that involves bribing or tricking employees at mobile phone companies.

This is how some of these attacks happen. They get started this way, and it can esculate to whatever the attacker wants to do.

To add insult to injury, the end of the article says:

The indictment alleges Bryan swatted his alleged partner in retaliation for Milleson failing to share the proceeds of a digital currency theft. Milleson
and Bryan are facing charges of wire fraud, unauthorized access to protected computers, aggravated identity theft and wire fraud conspiracy.

This reminds me of the Kansas case of 2018 going in to 2019 where swatting was part of the ordeal when people got picked up.

For further information, why not read the article by Brian entitled Two Charged in SIM Swapping, Vishing Scams and sending in your comments?

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