Support Center Served Over 2,000 Identity Thieves 25
wiredmikey writes "The operator of an online business that assisted over 2,000 identity thieves in over 5,000 instances of fraud pleaded guilty to charges of conspiracy to commit wire and credit card fraud this week. The Belarus man operated a service that helped fellow online thieves use stolen information by providing English language calling services to trick banks in the United States. The service helped counteract security measures put in place by financial institutions to prevent fraud when account holders try to make transfers or withdrawals from their accounts. In exchange for a fee, the two men provided the services of English- and German-speaking individuals to persons who had stolen account and biographical information to defeat the security screening processes."
In a triumph of leveraging synergies (Score:1)
The same support center also provided English speaking individuals to the bank's compliance centers. Eliminating those pesky middle-men that give the fraud industry a bad name.
One down... (Score:1)
.... 2000 more to prosecute.
Support Centers (Score:5, Funny)
I'm tired of all these support centers moving overseas. Why can't we keep call centers in the States? Congress should provide incentives to keep these services domestic.
Re: (Score:3)
If our economy is still the largest, companies will adapt to gain our business.
Re:Support Centers (Score:4, Insightful)
I'm not sure that they have to all stay in the country, but what this whole thing really illustrates quite clearly is that it's that much more difficult to ensure that our laws are being respected when the work is being done overseas. The US does not have the power to enforce its laws in India anymore than the French have the right to enforce their laws in Mexico, which leads to all sorts of complications.
Unfortunately even a company that's just looking to cut the cost of labor can find itself in a position where the employees are not complying with the law in the US and have to solve that.
The easiest solution is to just not go offshore, but it isn't the most efficient, given that it's often times quite efficient to have some tech support done on the other side of the world. A problem sent in at just before closing time can be solved and answered somewhat before the customer gets up in the morning without making somebody stay up all night.
Re: (Score:3)
The answer is simple. Look at the telemarketing industry. Regardless of how offshore they want to make it, the FTC holds the US companies liable for the actions of the foreign companies servicing them. All the FTC cares about is the product that makes the money. The company that owns that product gets "owned" by the FTC.
Just write laws to hold US companies liable for foreign companies they pay to represent them.
Re: (Score:3)
"this whole thing really illustrates quite clearly is that it's that much more difficult to ensure that our laws are being respected" ...in what country is stealing money by defrauding a bank legal?... it's not like you can't rip people off from a US based call center..
did you read the article?
"This case was a model of international cooperation, and serves as a warning to anyone who thinks they can hide behind the anonymity of the Internet and outside the United States to commit fraud. With our partners at
Re: (Score:2)
Large companies will find a way around it. Smaller companies will not be able to compete using those rules. It's always been that way. Look at how Cisco, Microsoft etc. ships stuff to Cuba and Iran, Korea etc. while smaller suppliers that don't have that kind of network get locked out of the business.
All they would have to do is put a few local people that pick up the phone, listen to the person 5 seconds and then say, sorry I can't help you with that, let me connect you to my colleague in India, he'll fix
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Re: (Score:1)
There is a simple solution, really. Copyright the English language, then license its use. RIAA can give some guidance, perhaps
Genius (Score:1)
I mean this is awful.
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Bollocks (Score:3)
I call shenanigans! No way you can call a support center and get someone who speaks English these days.
Re: (Score:2)
thank you (Score:1)
for calling USA prime credit, my name "Peggy"
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reminds me of the commercial (Score:1)
High lights a point (Score:1)
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throw the book... (Score:2)
I hope they throw the book at him, even put him to death, it would give a clear picture of those intentionally trying to harm multiple people, that this is a no go zone.