A hacker admitted Tuesday to his role in stealing $150,000 from an elderly woman in Montana, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's Office.
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Sukhdev Vaid , a 24-year-old from India , faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison, a $250,000 fine and three years of supervision after pleading guilty to wire fraud
Vaid accessed a 73-year-old woman’s account in February through a pop-up on the Kalispell woman’s computer screen, saying her computer had been “hacked” and asking her to call a customer support number. The woman complied when the scammers told her to withdraw cash from her bank accounts for safekeeping at the “Fed,” giving Vaid and another man $150,000 in cash.
In a trap set by authorities in March, the woman, known only as Jane Doe, told hackers she still had $50,000 in cash. Law enforcement arrested Vaid and his accomplice, Eddly Joseph, of Gainesville, Florida, when they arrived in Montana to steal the money, according to the government.
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The investigation concluded that the scammers were gaining remote access to Jane Doe's computer using UltraViewer, which they had installed on her computer.
Joseph pleaded guilty in August to internet fraud and is awaiting sentencing.
Considering the horrifying scale of the hacker's misuse of technology, it is undoubtedly important to discuss the precautions that can be implemented to prevent future attempts at illegal intrusion.
Precautionary measures
Increasing Internet Security:
- Use of antivirus and malware protection software
- Increased awareness of phishing and other hacking techniques.
- Regular software upgrades and updates.
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Typical Impervious Systems:
- Intensive use of strong passwords and multiple levels of verification.
- Restricting physical access to devices.
- Regularly check accounts and devices for signs of tampering.
From now on, it is of utmost importance to intensify efforts to address the threat of cyber-hacking.
Source: dailymontanan
