Feds Bust Sexy Computer Virus Hacker Ring

"Money mule" Kristina Svechinskaya

More than 80 people were arrested as part of a massive Eastern European computer virus scheme. Millions were stolen from American bank accounts by the hacker-ring, who were aided by "money mules," many of whom were college co-eds here on student visas. It's not quite Anna Chapman, but it'll do.

The ringleaders of the scheme used a computer virus, Zeus Trojan, to steal PIN numbers and then infiltrate bank accounts; the virus gave the perps access to the victim's computer activity once they clicked on a link or opened a file attached to a seemingly legitimate e-mail message. The hackers then transferred the ill gotten money into accounts opened by the "money mules," such as Kristina Svechinskaya, 21, who opened at least five bank accounts used to transfer $35,000 of the loot, according to Feds. "The mouse and the keyboard can be far more effective than the gun and the mask," said US Attorney Preet Bharara, inadvertantly stumbling upon the name of the next DangerDoom album.

Svechinskaya is one of nine young people arrested yesterday, but the "Russian brunette in calf-high boots and skin-tight jeans" has quickly become the poster child of the bust, both for her looks as well as her questionable role in it. Prosecutors said these ring members were the first wave of a "gathering threat" that targeted American financial systems, but defense lawyers countered that they barely knew what they were into: "They're just children who at worst were used by people much more sophisticated than they are," said defense lawyer Sarah Baumgartel. If Svechinskaya plays this right, maybe she can run for Russian Parliament next year!

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By Ben Yakas in News on October 1, 2010 11:40 AM

Comments [rss]

wusuopu

Sometimes beautiful girl is dangerous.

Best Registry Cleaner

Chances are these folks couldn't even turn in the real thieves if they wanted to.

Cranky Old Man

And this is exactly why we should drop this phoney 'War on Terror' and focus on some things that are actually hurting Americans. How much money do they piss away on all of this 'security theatre; at the airports and trains stations? And in the meantime, people are hacking into the American banking systems and stealing people's money.

John L

I agree.

The whole "War on Terror" has gotten out of hand and should be kept in perspective. America is declining and it has nothing to do with terrorists.

John L

She's pretty but should rot in jail.

What happened to the days when pretty girls just dated gangsters?

Now they're gangsters in their own right.

melanarchy

Arresting the "money mules" in this case is like arresting street corner crack slingers, it's easy, you can get the arrest numbers up, and it ultimately does absolutely nothing to stop the problem.

Chances are these folks couldn't even turn in the real thieves if they wanted to.

RabbiLaFunque

"college co-eds"? You mean college women, don't you? Yes, you do. So just say that. This isn't an issue of Playboy circa 1962. Sheesh, someone has been watching too many Mad Men episodes.