Stolen Uber Accounts Worth More Than Stolen Credit Cards
January 21, 2016 | Fraud
Cybercriminals don't care that much about your credit card number anymore.
Uber, PayPal and even Netflix accounts have become much more valuable to criminals, as evidenced by the price these stolen identifiers now fetch on the so-called "deep Web," according to security company Trend Micro.
Stolen Uber account information on underground marketplaces sells for an average of $3.78 per account, while personally identifiable information (PII) was listed for $1 to $3.30 on average, oddly down from $4 per record in 2014, according to data …
Timaru Fraud Accused's Former Employer Admits Spying
January 21, 2016 | Fraud
The former employer of a Timaru office worker accused of fraud was obsessed with the issue, the Timaru District Court has been told.
The employer, who has interim name suppression, has admitted spying on the worker's house to track vehicle movements after a review of the company's records led to her dismissal.
In court on Wednesday, another former employee of the company stated the employer watched the worker's house from afar and the employer spent his days talking about the alleged fraud.
"He was possessed by it."
The employer to…
FMA Fraudster Admits $350,000 Swindle
January 19, 2016 | Fraud
A former Financial Markets Authority analyst who falsified his CV to get that job has admitted theft and forgery charges.
Benjamin Anthony Kiro was convicted after pleading guilty to 23 charges, including forgery, use of a forged document, theft by a person in a special relationship and obtaining money by deception.
Kiro forged his academic from Australian universities and used a false curriculum vitae to obtain employment the FMA in 2014. He worked at the capital markets regulator for a number of months, which is likely to cause emb…
Hackers Crack Z Fuel Discount Voucher Algorithm
January 16, 2016 | Fraud
Two New Zealand researchers demonstrated at last Kiwicon conference how to print their own non-expiring 40c vouchers for fuel discounts.
Bar codes are used all over the world, but to be fair, it’s a very outdated technology, and from time to time we get to know new holes in the technology. At last Kiwicon conference edition, two researchers that want to keep their identities confidential showed how to print their own fuel vouchers.
“When you shop at Countdown, FreshChoice or participating SuperValue supermarkets and spend $40 or more…
Nubiotics' Trevor Lock Charged With $1M Fraud By SFO
January 14, 2016 | Fraud
Nubiotics and Nu-Brands principal Trevor Lock has appeared in court charged with running a dairy and honey business that generated $1 million dollars by defrauding customers.
Lock was arrested in Morrinsville last month and today appeared at Hamilton District Court to face 11 charges of deception and forgery, including two charges of obstructing a Serious Fraud Office investigation, the law enforcement agency said in a statement.
The 54-year-old ran Nubiotics and Nu-Brands which entered into a number of contracts to supply dairy and …
Kiwibank Security Emails Are Spam
January 11, 2016 | Fraud
Emails purporting to be from Kiwibank and asking customers to upgrade to a new security system are spam, the bank is warning.
A number of people have received the fake emails -- one was even sent to the Herald newsdesk email address -- pretending to inform customers of a new security system to protect against "malicious cyber attack".
The email reads: "Dear Customer, We the Kiwibank security teams work day and night to keep your Kiwi Online account safe and secure from malicious cyber attack.
"We have improved our security system to…
Woman Who Stole $800k From Waikato Diocesan School For Girls Named
January 7, 2016 | Fraud
A woman who stole almost $800,000 from a top school and spent it on a high rolling, horsey lifestyle can now be named.
• Tessa Fiona Grant named as woman who defrauded Waikato Diocesan School for Girls out of $795,000.
• Grant pleaded guilty to seven fraud-related charges today, including two counts of using a document for pecuniary advantage, two counts of altering a document and three charges of using forged documents.
• Documents show Grant used fake invoices from a school building project to reap cash which helped buy an equestr…
Woman Admits Defrauding School Of $800,000
December 23, 2015 | Fraud
A former manager of a Waikato school has admitted defrauding it of nearly $800,000.
However, the 40-year-old was granted interim name suppression when she appeared in the Hamilton District Court this morning when she admitted seven fraud charges from offending which occurred while she worked at the school.
The woman is also well known in sporting and business circles.
Community Magistrate Ngaire Mascelle entered intimated guilty pleas to all charges to reappear in January when name suppression will again be discussed.
She was also …
Police: Southland Man Loses $100,000 In Online Dating Scam
December 2, 2015 | Fraud
A Southland man is $100,000 poorer after being scammed on an online dating site.
Senior constable Adam Roberts, of Riversdale, said the middle-aged man had been communicating with a woman face to face over the internet for some time.
He had met her on an online dating site and she had built a sophisticated cover story during that time.
The middle-aged man has been communicating with a woman face to face over the internet for some time.
"It took three to four months before there was any talk about money from her."
"The woman had pr…
Don't Get Grinched By Cybercrime This Christmas
November 30, 2015 | Fraud
Online fraud spikes during the Christmas shopping season, as people searching for the perfect gifts take to cyberspace and head to traditional stores armed with their smartphones.
"The Pandora's box of cyberattacks is about to open," says Pete Tyrrell, chief operating officer for Digital Guardian, a Waltham, Massachusetts-based data protection firm. "The cybercriminals are getting more and more creative - and at the end of the day, it's your personal information at risk."
Here are some tips for protecting yourself and your informatio…