For Immediate Release: December 12, 2007

PUBLIC’S HELP SOUGHT TO IDENTIFY SUBJECTS CAUGHT ON TAPE
WHO ARE SUSPECTED IN ONLINE IDENTITY THEFT SCHEME

The FBI is seeking the public’s assistance in determining the identity of several individuals suspected for their involvement in a scheme in which the identity and brokerage accounts of several individuals were stolen via the Internet. During August 2007, several individuals were seen withdrawing money on surveillance cameras located at various ATMs in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. These individuals are believed to have acted as mules or runners by withdrawing money from online brokerage accounts which were victimized as part of an organized phishing e-mail attack. A phishing attack is the creation and use of fraudulent but legitimate looking e-mails and websites in order to obtain Internet users’ identities and financial account information for criminal purposes. Internet users are victimized by phishing attacks when they believe they have received an authentic e-mail request for their personal information and are then fooled into providing that information to criminals who have replicated the e-mails and websites of legitimate companies with whom the victims believe they are interacting. As a result of the phishing scheme perpetrated in this matter, the personal information of at least twenty victims located throughout the United States was harvested and then used to make wire transfers from various brokerage accounts. Losses thus far are estimated to be in excess of $400,000. The FBI is releasing photos of the individuals captured in the ATM surveillance photos. These individuals are believed to be involved in a criminal ring and associated with the individuals perpetrating the phishing scheme. Anyone with information that might assist in determining the identity or whereabouts of the unidentified subjects in the photos should contact the FBI. The FBI in Los Angeles can be reached 24 hours per day, seven days a week at 310 477-6565. MEDIA CONTACT: FBI: Laura Eimiller: 310 996-3343 Vickie Hampton-Franklin: 310 996-3342 Lourdes Arocho: 310 996-4402 (Spanish speaker)