[Full-Disclosure] Alleged IT security extortion plot against BestBuy.com

From: Richard M. Smith (rms_at_computerbytesman.com)
Date: 01/07/04

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    To: <full-disclosure@lists.netsys.com>
Date: Wed, 7 Jan 2004 10:19:15 -0500

    http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/4304797.html
     
    Feds thwart extortion plot against Best Buy
    David Phelps, Star Tribune
     
    Published January 7, 2004 BEST07

    Federal authorities said Tuesday they thwarted an extortion plot against
    Best Buy Co. Inc. by a man who sent the company an e-mail threatening to
    expose what he claimed were weaknesses in the retailer's computer system
    unless he was paid $2.5 million.

    Thomas E. Ray III, a 25-year-old Jackson, Miss., resident, made his first
    Minnesota court appearance Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Earl Cudd.
    He pleaded not guilty and was released on $10,000 bail.

    Ray faces two felony charges of making extortion threats to damage property
    or reputation and extortion threats to damage computers. He is being
    represented by Minneapolis attorney Rick Petry.

    He was indicted in federal court in Mississippi in mid-December and accused
    of making a series of threats in October to Richfield-based Best Buy about
    the security of its BestBuy.com site. No security breaches were made into
    the system, Best Buy said.

    Federal investigators became involved after security officials at Best Buy
    contacted federal authorities about the demands. The Minnesota CyberCrime
    Task Force also took part in the investigation, as did America Online and
    Netscape, Internet service providers that Ray used.

    According to the indictment, Ray made the e-mail demands to Best Buy under
    the name and Internet address of "Jamie Weathersby, IPC Corp."

    ....

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