Operation Cybersnare

Operation Cybersnare

Venue	Online (Bulletin Board System "Celco 51")
Type	Sting operation, Cybercrime
Target	Computer hackers<br<sellers of stolen data
Participants	United States Secret Service
Outcome	Arrests of six individuals, breakup of a cell phone fraud ring, seizure of computer systems and illicit devices.
Property damage	Millions of dollars worth of data stolen.
Arrests	6
Charges	Computer fraud cell phone fraud, theft of personal information.

Operation Cybersnare was a sting operation by United States Secret Service targeted at computer hackers. This was the first undercover Internet sting of its kind. Elaborate ruses were designed by law enforcement agencies to trap computer criminals. The operation lasted for 8 months. ^[1]

The sting resulted in arrests of six individuals and the breakup of a sophisticated cell phone fraud ring. ^[2] These individuals stole millions of dollars worth of data. ^[3]

History

In January 1995, the Secret Service set up an undercover bulletin board system called “Celco 51” in Bergen County, New Jersey. It was a forum for the purchase of stolen cellular phone access numbers, credit card numbers and personal identity information. An agent served as the board’s operator using the computer moniker “Carder One”. ^{[4] [5]}

The undercover agents advertised this bulletin board as "catering to individuals involved in unauthorized computer intrusion and all aspects of computer fraud, including cellular telephone fraud." ^[6]

In September 1995, Individuals who stole and offered illicit products for sale in the group were identified and arrested. ^[7] Twelve raids across the country resulted in the arrest of six hackers. More than 30 systems were seized. ^{[8] [9]} It also led to the confiscation of 65 illegally programmed phones and 14 readers. ^[10]

Arrests

• Richard Lacap or Chillin, of Katy, Texas, was charged with conspiring to break into the computer system of an Oregon Cellular Telephone company. ^[11]
• Kevin Watkins or Led, of Houston, Texas, was charged conspiring to break into the computer system of an Oregon Cellular Telephone company. ^[12]
• Jeremy Golle Cushing or Alpha Bits, of Huntington Beach, California, was charged with trafficking cloned cellular telephone equipment and stolen access devices used to program cellular telephones. ^[13]
• Frank Natoli or Mmind, of Brooklyn, New York, was charged with trafficking in stolen access devices used to program cellular telephones.
• Al Bradford or Cellfone, of Detroit, Michigan, was charged with trafficking in unauthorized access devices used to program cellular telephones.
• Michael Clarkson or Barcode, of Brooklyn, New York, was charged with possessing and trafficking in hardware used to obtain unauthorized access to telecommunications services.

References

1. "6 Caught In 'Cyber-Sting' | The Seattle Times". archive.seattletimes.com. Archived from the original on 2023-09-26. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
2. Bauerschmidt, Tim; Liddle, Ramie (2017-05-04). Driving Miss Norma. Transworld. ISBN   978-1-4735-4358-4. Archived from the original on 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
3. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin. Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice. 1998. Archived from the original on 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
4. Wall, DavidS (2017-07-05). Crime and Deviance in Cyberspace. Routledge. ISBN   978-1-351-57076-3. Archived from the original on 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
5. Cryptography's Role in Securing the Information Society. 1996. doi:10.17226/5131. ISBN   978-0-309-05475-1. Archived from the original on 2023-12-09. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
6. "WHEN DOES A "HACKER" BECOME AN "ATTACKER?"" (PDF). United States Army Command and General Staff College. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
7. Cryptography's Role in Securing the Information Society. National Academies Press. 1996-10-29. ISBN   978-0-309-17580-7. Archived from the original on 2024-03-14. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
8. "1995-09-11 -- Cybersnare Sting -- Arrests -- News Release". irp.fas.org. Archived from the original on 2022-12-06. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
9. Gregson, Reily (1999-11-30). "SECRET SERVICE ATTACKS CELLULAR FRAUD AT SOURCE, STOPS COMPUTER HACKERS". RCR Wireless News. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
10. Boucher, Geoff (1995-09-13). "On-Line Sting Just the Beginning, Says Cyber-Sleuth Squad". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
11. "Internet Sting Operation Nets Six Attempting to Sell Stolen Data". Associated Press News . 2019-01-26. Archived from the original on 2019-01-26. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
12. "Secret Service Goes On Line and After Hackers (Published 1995)". 1995-09-12. Archived from the original on 2023-05-18. Retrieved 2024-03-14.
13. Boucher, Geoff (1995-09-12). "Computer Hacker Snared in Cyber-Sting : Technology: Huntington Beach man is one of six arrested in alleged plot to steal credit card and cellular phone codes". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2023-08-27. Retrieved 2024-03-14.

Further reading

• A British Hacker in America: The Story of Pmf & 'Operation Cybersnare' - The U.S. Secret Service's First Online Sting
• CTIA press release: "Wireless Industry Salutes U.S. Secret Service", 11 September 1995. (Archived)
• Documentary - Hackers 95 (1995, Phon-E and R F Burns)
• OPERATION CYBERSNARE ARTICLES AND LINKS ARCHIVE