University worker accused of extorting student file sharers

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://news.cnet.com/8301-31001_3-10449583-261.html

By Greg Sandoval
Media Maverick 
CNET News
February 8, 2010

If you thought the Recording Industry Association of America was hard on 
illegal file sharing, consider Dorin Dehelean.

Dehelean, an Internet security analyst, was in charge of tracking 
illegal file sharing at the University of Georgia until he tried to 
shake down the student downloaders he caught.

Last week, police arrested the 37-year-old Dehelean on a felony 
extortion charge, according to a report published by the Web site of the 
Athens Banner-Herald. Police allege that Dehelean contacted a female 
student two weeks ago to tell her that he'd caught her violating school 
policy by illegally downloading copyright materials.

He also told her he could make the "situation go away in exchange for 
money," Jimmy Williamson, chief of campus police at the university, told 
the Banner-Herald. "All he was doing was (offering) to keep the 
information from going to Judicial Programs."

The student, who apparently could have faced disciplinary action for the 
downloading, told Dehelean that she didn't have the money and then 
informed a school official about the conversation. The police were 
contacted and they sent a plainclothes officer to meet with Dehelean 
posing as the student. After Dehelean accepted a payment of an 
undisclosed amount, he was arrested and the school immediately fired 
him.

[...]


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