Computer hacker taps into bank accounts

Calcutta News.Net
Saturday 10th November, 2007

The Los Angeles U.S Attorney says a man has admitted stealing the identities of thousands of people by wiretapping their computers and breaking in to their bank accounts.

John Schiefer, 26, has agreed to plead guilty to four counts of fraud and wiretap charges.

The charges, alleging Schiefer and associates intercepted messages to internet credit card payment sites, could lead to a US$1.75 million fine and prison for up to 60 years.

Prosecutors said they were still investigating how much money was stolen and the number of victims.

Police say Schiefer was well known to them as a so-called hacker.

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