Instigator --- Busted!

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               (Shit inside the ***( )*** are my comments)

                       From the front page of the  
                         Intelligencer Journal          

               2 "Hackers" caught stealing phone service

  Using sophisticated computers and telephones, two Lancaster County
computer hackers touched MCI, a Washington-based telephone communications
network, for approximately $4,700 last year. ***( Sophisticated phones? )***

  Their activities represent "only the tip of the iceberg" of
telecommunications fraud, which carries an annual $1 billion to $1.5 billion
price tag, according to John Houser, a MCI spokesman. ***( Dick )***

  The two are accused of accessing MCI's computer and obtaining "25 card
numbers, thet we know about," Houser said.  "We know they made calls all over
the United Sates, to Canada, Great Britain, and West Germany"

  "None of the card numbers have been issued to Lancaster subscribers,"
Houser said.

  Columbia police are charging an 18 year old borough resident with credit
card fraud, unlawful use of a computer, theft of services, and criminal
conspiracy according to Sgt. C. Joseph Smith. Police are withholding his
identity until he is formally charged, Smith said.

  West Donegal Township chief Charles R. Bronte said a fifteen year old
suspect ***( that's me! )*** living in his jurisdiction was being refered to
juvenile authorities by the department investigator, Cpl. Kenton Whitebread.

  Officers with both departments said this was an entirely new kind of
criminal case for them.

  "I'm still going over our suspectes statement," said Smith, "and even when
I'm done, I don't think I'm going to understand (all the technical jargon).
We're getting a lot of help from MCI."

  "If our juvenile hadn't cooperated, it's possible we'd still be looking at
his equipment", Bronte said.  "He went into the computer, using his access
codes," ***( He means I logged on my board )*** " to retrieve the information
necessary to continue the investigation".

  Police confiscated computer telephone equipment, whose value is estimated
***( Estimated - Gimme a break!)***  in the thousands of dollars, when they
executed search warrants at the residences of both suspects, Jan. 20.

  "It was a real United Nations collection," said Bronte, "There were a
number of different manufacturers" of the equipment taken in West Donegal.
***( United Nations collection? )***

  Most of the equipment taken in Columbia was made by Tandy, Smith said.

  Both posessed programs and equipment which allowed their computers to
generate thousands of random numbers.

  Houser said that once an individual had knowledge of MCI's calling card
format "they could access our computer switching equipment, and begin
generating random numbers. ***( they make it sound so technical )*** They
could allow their equipment to run 24 hours a day."

  Houser declined discussing the company security, but acknowledged "We
became aware of an unusual number of calls coming into our computer line. We
eventually were able to trace those calls back to the originating telephone
equipment." ***( ANI )***

   Bronte said MCI investigators arrived at his department early Monday
afternoon.  The warrant was executed at 2 pm, Bronte said.  "We took
investigators to the suspects home, while Cpl. Whitebread picked up the
boy at his school.

Smith said the Columbia warrant was served at 5:18pm on Monday.
The suspect and another individual were working on his computer at the time.
"They weren't doing anything illegal," he said.

Smith said MCI first became aware of the two local hackers "about
Dec. 14".  They were monitoring them since."

The officers said they did not believe either of the two profited
from their activities. ***( Free Phone calls! )***

"I think it was just a case of him getting involved in someting that
was entirely over his head, Bronte said.  ***( Yeah, right )***

Houser said MCI's investigation was continuing.

"We have reason to believe they shared some of their information with
others," he said. "At this time I can tell you we have no other suspects in
Pennsylvania, but that could change tomorrow."

He said investigators were unsure at present if any of the computer
data had been transmitted to other hackers. ***( They said one paragraph up
that they thought we shared some of the information.. Duh )***

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    Update --
    ------

  Here is the current casualties on the 476-9696 system, which is owned by
  TeleConnect, a subsidiary of MCI.

Instigator    -----  $1970.70  -----  Theft of Services(1 Count)
Asphi         -----  $2700.00  -----  Unlawful Use of Computer
                                      Credit Card Fraud
                                      Theft Of Services
                                      Criminal Conspiracy
Dekion        -----   UNKNOWN  -----  UNKNOWN
Count Zero    -----  $83.63    -----  No Charges Just Billed (*)
VenoM         -----  $75.00    -----  No Charges Just Billed (*)

   Apparently the head of the operations is Terry Oakes.  He is the phone
   Fraud investigator in charge of the TeleConnect Investigations.  Give him a
   ring at 800-476-1234 Ext. 3045.  Thank you.

(*) In both cases parents were notified.
                                                -)GHeap