Kevin Mitnick, a convicted computer hacker, recently plead guilty to charges of illegally using stolen mobile phone numbers. Federal prosecutors in North Carolina arranged the plea as part of an agreement when he was arrested last year after three years on the run. Mitnick, a notorious computer criminal who had been charged with 23 counts of computer fraud, plead guilty to one count of illegally using 15 stolen phone numbers to dial into computer databases.
Last week The Wall Street Journal recapped the story of Bernard Oskar Bowitz, a sophisticated high-tech criminal involved in cellular service fraud. Bowitz was arrested late in 1995 on several counts including fraud related to access devices and RCR reported the story in January. Bowitz used the Internet to spread the word about his “business.” He sold model cloned phones and other cellular theft gear. The Journal reported that Bowitz calls himself just a salesman.
The cellular industry continually comes out with new fraud prevention devices, infrastructure and services and the criminals continue to become more advanced and cunning, breaking the latest code and stealing countless dollars worth of airtime right out from under the carriers’ noses.
On Friday, AT&T Wireless Services Inc. for the Southwest Region held a Cellular Fraud Fair for the law enforcement community in that area. AT&T Wireless says the cellular industry lost more than $500 million on cellular fraud in 1995 and 1996 losses are projected at $650 million.
Speakers included prosecutors, parole board officials and representatives from the Drug Enforcement Agency, Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service.
The seminar was intended to update law enforcement officials on the latest trends in cellular fraud, how to detect fraud, how to investigate the crime for prosecution and to show them the latest fraud devices and how they work and exchange information on resources for fighting cellular fraud.
… Cellular One is conducting a “Search for the Great American Cellular Story.” The company is requesting a 200-300 word essay describing an amazing, real-life story involving cellular phones. Six winners will receive $500 toward payment of their cellular phone bill. The deadline is May 31. Entries can be sent to Cellular One at PO Box 190950, Dallas, TX 75219.
… United States Cellular has launched a news tip line in LaCrosse, Wis. Cellular customers in a six-county area of west central Wisconsin now can make a free call to report fires, accidents, road conditions and other news to the LaCrosse Tribune. The company said it has set up similar news tip lines with the broadcast media but this is its first print agreement.
