The Sky Isn’t Really Falling…It’s Just Stormy
I spoke at a conference recently, doing my normal thing of updating area businesses and financial institutions about all the fraud they are facing, when a gentlemen (well-meaning and with humor) stated, “wow, in your world, the sky is always falling huh?” This isn’t the first time I’ve had someone say something similar to me. So that tells me I don’t share enough of the other side of my world – the gratifying, and often humorous, situations I read about. So I am taking this opportunity to tell you about the individuals in our world who really should explore other career choices because a fraudster they simply are not.
#5 When you post evidence of your crime on Facebook
Authorities in OH state they identified a bank robber and his accomplice via their own Facebook posts. Authorities are currently holding John Mogan, 28, and Ashely Duboe, 24 after arresting them on bank robbery charges. According to various news sources, Mogan posted several pictures of himself holding large amounts of cash on his Facebook page, just days after the August 24th robbery. Mogan had just been released from prison in July after serving time for a 2010 bank robbery. He and his girlfriend Duboe are now facing felony bank robbery and theft charges.
Fox News
#4: In need of new accessories
Accessories can make (or in this case, break) a job. This is exactly what 24-year-old Kon Tong learned when he allegedly robbed a bank in Des Moines, IA in 2014. Tong was arrested with an armload of cash after police literally tracked him down by following the money trail. Tong allegedly handed a note demanding money at a bank, and with no getaway car or bag to put the money in, hit the streets running, dropping cash along the way. After police took him into custody, the teller involved positively identified Tong as the robber.
According to South Sudan News, Tong has a long criminal history including three burglary arrests, four theft arrests and an arrest for money laundering.
Des Moines Channel 13 News
South Sedan News
#3: No aliases here!
I’m not sure which is better about this case – the fact that she used her own identity to set up the fraudulent account at the bank or the fact that authorities identified their suspect using her Facebook selfies. She has a new photo now; a mugshot.
Tanya Monique Peel, a 26-year-old Atlanta woman, is accused of setting up a bogus bank account in her own name to bilk over $100,000 from an identity theft victim. After the bank filed a police report on the fraud, authorities took a chance on looking her name up on Facebook and hit a jackpot. Not only did Peel use her real name, but her own selfies matched the suspect photos provided by the bank to police.
Fox News
#2: Oops, wrong victim
In July, a reporter took on a very personal story; he confronted the woman who was allegedly using his stolen card number. In fact, he did so on camera at the hotel where authorities state she had checked in using her own name and the reporters’ card number.
The Texas reporter, Steve Noviello, did some sleuthing after being alerted by his card issuer that there was suspicious activity on his account. The questionable charge was to a local hotel where Noviello went to confront the suspect, Farah Parks. Police met Noviello at the hotel and took Parks into custody.
Parks was given new accommodations, complements of the State of Texas.
Fox News Insider– has the video of the confrontation
And #1: Even hackers have trouble creating secure passwords
A little older, but still one of my favs. In 2012, FBI Agents raided the home of 29-year-old Jeremy Hammond and confiscated his encrypted laptop. Now you are probably thinking that as a hacker, Hammond had some pretty strong encryption, and you would be right. His downfall? The password to the evidence of his illegal activities was the name of his cat and 123. Oh yes, his password was Chewy123.
Now honestly I can’t knock the password choice in general; I think we’ve all used a slacker-style password a time or two, but when attempting to hide evidence of illegal activity that could land you in prison for a decade or more, well, I’d think you’d go with something stronger than your pet’s name. But that’s just me.
With access to the evidence they needed, Hammond was charged with various computer crimes, including hacking into think tank Stratfor, whose clients include the US Department of Homeland Security and the Defense Department.
The Telegraph
In conclusion
Most of what security professionals do is navigate the storms, but as you can see, my world is not all doom and gloom. I get many laughs along the way and get to cheer on the good guys often. I hope you enjoyed these cases as much as I did.