Two major US technology firms 'tricked out of $100m'

["Dave Farber" <farber () gmail com>]

Begin forwarded message:

> From: Mohammad Irshid <w () moeirs com>
> Date: March 22, 2017 at 12:55:01 PM EDT
> To: ip <ip () listbox com>, dave () farber net
> Subject: Two major US technology firms 'tricked out of $100m'
>
> http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-39351215
>
> A Lithuanian man has been charged with tricking two US technology firms into wiring him $100m (£80.3m) through an 
> email phishing scam.
>
> Posing as an Asian-based manufacturer, Evaldas Rimasauskas tricked staff into transferring money into bank accounts 
> under his control, US officials said.
>
> The companies were not named but were described as US-based multinationals, with one operating in social media.
>
> Officials called it a wake-up call for even "the most sophisticated" firms.
>
> According to the US Department of Justice, Mr Rimasauskas, 48 - who was arrested in Lithuania last week - deceived 
> the firms from at least 2013 up until 2015.
>
> He allegedly registered a company in Latvia which bore the same name as an Asian-based computer hardware manufacturer 
> and opened various accounts in its name at several banks.
>
> 'Fake email accounts’
>
> The DoJ said: "Thereafter, fraudulent phishing emails were sent to employees and agents of the victim companies, 
> which regularly conducted multimillion-dollar transactions with [the Asian] company.”
>
> The emails, which "purported" to be from employees and agents of the Asian firm, and were sent from fake email 
> accounts, directed money for legitimate goods and services into Mr Rimasauskas's accounts, the DoJ said.
>
> The cash was then "wired into different bank accounts" in locations around the world - including Latvia, Cyprus, 
> Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary and Hong Kong.
>
> He also "forged invoices, contracts and letters" to hide his fraud from the banks he used.
> Officials said Mr Rimasauskas siphoned off more than $100m in total, although much of the stolen money has been 
> recovered.
>
> Acting US Attorney Joon H Kim said: "This case should serve as a wake-up call to all companies... that they too can 
> be victims of phishing attacks by cybercriminals.
>
> "And this arrest should serve as a warning to all cybercriminals that we will work to track them down, wherever they 
> are, to hold them accountable.”
>
> The DoJ would not comment on possible extradition arrangements and said that no trial date had been set.
>
> DOJ piece and more details > 
> https://www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/lithuanian-man-arrested-theft-over-100-million-fraudulent-email-compromise-scheme
>
> –Mohammad



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