Yes, The FBI Is Watching Cybercrooks -- But What's It Actually Doing About Them?
from the the-big-question dept
We recently had a story about how Massachusetts' Attorney General was the recent victim of identity theft, and there still wasn't much she could do to get the criminal. That kind of helplessness is highlighted by the first part of a multi-part Wired story about a former identity theft/credit card scammer who started "working" for the FBI to help them monitor the world of cybercriminals. Working is used loosely, because they basically paid his rent and expenses while he helped run a community of cybercrooks online (and continued to take part in various crimes -- though, only after the FBI approved them). While there aren't that many details, what does become clear is that while law enforcement is heavily involved in many of these communities (including some law enforcement officials who don't realize certain others are also law enforcement officials) and many of these cybercrooks are openly discussing their crimes, it's not at all clear what's being done to stop the crooks. It's probably a bit tricky, as the law enforcement folks who went to so much trouble to set up informants can't be too blatant, or they'll lose their way into the community. However, when it reaches the level that they're letting huge crimes go by without any attempt to stop them, you have to wonder what's the point?
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rtarded fbi
Until then, catch those idiots they know about, prosecute them and make a mockery out of them to hopefully help deter people from doing this. It would make the FBI look a bit more ... intelligent.
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The bigger picture
If you want to take down a big target you get your man in there and you tell him to do whatever he needs to in order to stay in and get close. If the aim were to take down a mafia leader that might mean an agent witnessing or even taking part in crimes and murders. If the agent stops to arrest the thugs then he is making himself known and you can no longer go for the leader.
By sitting back and watching these cyber crimes take place they are most likely just waiting for something bigger, and if they start causing a muck and arresting people for identity theft then they may lose their chance to get what they are really after.
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The FBI's problem
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uhm i think it can be a bit too easy if know what
1. Find the target.
2. Get inside the target's circle.
3. Full Disclosure, one by one
4. Locate the Members after they start deals.
5. One deal, One member down.
6. Get a girl inside their circle.
7. Target the all mighty "Boss".
8. Get info on his next "blast".
9. Record the "blast".
10. Trow him in jail along with all his group.
TADA!
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You are all messed up
Where do you draw the line? Is it OK to wipe out the bank account from a single parent on Welfare as long as it protects the operative's cover? Is it OK to sell personal data on hundreds of people as long as you get to meet the next level bad guy. After all, it isn't like it's your money right? And besides, the victims can eventually recover, maybe.
Try being on the receiving end of identity theft and see how it feels. You may want to take a long, hard look at your morals - I bet you won't like what you see.
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read the effing article
And by the way, there is another article today that follows that one, and tomorrow at least is another.
I do not know about any more past the 3rd, but it is one hell of an intriguing story.
I am not condoning anything the FBI allowed, and I know that Identity Theft is serious, hell, it almost happened to my parents but they stopped it quickly and only had to cancel a couple transactions and get new cards (and numbers).
I am just saying, if you read the entire article, sometimes there really can be a greater good.
It just comes down to the specific battle of if this case is worth it (the Halo book First Strike by Eric something or other has a very good point on this towards the end, seriously, its a great book, and I do not like the Halo games that much either).
One reason that it is hard for the FBI to act in a lot of cases is because the criminals are all over other countries in Europe and Asia (and Africa I am sure). The ones in the US are more easy to catch.
The ones in the other countries are harder.
This is especially true in countries like the Ukraine and Russia where corruption is rampant (read the articles and you will understand).
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So it's OK to commit a crime for the greater good.
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Sting each other
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