For 3 Years, Scammers Ran Truckless Trucking Company 244
mikesd81 writes "Wired reports Nicholas Lakes and Viachelav Berkovich are charged with computer fraud [PDF] for a man-in-the-middle attack that allegedly let them run a profitable trucking company without the hassle of driving a truck. For over three years the Russian immigrants hacked a Department of Transportation website called Safersys.org, which maintains a list of licensed interstate trucking companies and brokers. They then went on forums where brokers advertise cargo in need of transportation and negotiate a deal, for example, to transport cargo from American Canyon, California, to Jessup, Maryland, for $3,500. But instead of transporting the load, they would outsource the job to another trucking company posing as the legitimate company whose identity they'd hijacked. They would then invoice the company and take the money. When the company that owned the actual truck tried to contact the company that needed the goods delivered, they found they knew nothing about it. Over all they made nearly $500,000."
Wait... (Score:5, Funny)
2)... 3)Profit!
So this is actually a valid business model?!?
And, as usual... (Score:5, Funny)
More Info! (Score:3, Funny)
I would like to subscribe to their newsletter; does anyone know their address?
These people should be considered heroes (Score:5, Funny)
The most environmentally friendly trucking company EVER.
Re:Wait... (Score:2, Funny)
1)Start trucking company 2)... 3)Profit! So this is actually a valid business model?!?
No, and you forgot the 4th step:
4) Get arrested!
yro? (Score:4, Funny)
I was scammed by these guys (Score:5, Funny)
Nice guys, they're very persuasive in person. Vitaly is loud, boisterous, always wants to have a good time. He wears fine suits and a lot of gold. Vlade is quieter, and he seems to have some sort of brooding intensity. He was always wearing track suits and listening to Run-DMC.
I honestly believed that these were best guys for transporting my adult novelties across state lines. This can be illegal in some jurisdictions (like Texas) and you need someone who knows how to run an illegal business. Since they are Russian, I knew they could handle it.
They kept telling me that the merchadise was seized at the Texas border by Davy Crockett and Ed Meese, and I believed them for a long time. Finally, after the 3rd shipment I started to suspect something. All of a sudden, the phone stopped ringing. Those Russians had played me for a fool!
That's when I knew I had to become a symbol. A creature of the night, to frighten away criminal scum like these Russians. I prayed to Jesus, and he transformed me into...the Bat-Man!
Re:More Info! (Score:5, Funny)
Re:yro? (Score:4, Funny)
Yaks Receive Oscar
Re:More Info! (Score:4, Funny)
Inmate #3L33T3
P.M.I.T.A Prison
Dontdropthesoap, CA, 10101-1010
Re:Wait... (Score:1, Funny)
1)Start trucking company
2)... 3)Profit!
So this is actually a valid business model?!?
Well, it worked for a couple of former Soviet Russians, but maybe not for you!
Re:Well.... (Score:3, Funny)
Apparently a 100% slice. That's the problem.
Re:I was scammed by these guys (Score:5, Funny)
Re:Well.... (Score:2, Funny)
Oh, I got that from the summary as well, my bad. Thanks for the clarification.
In that case I grudgingly admire nothing whatsoever about this =)
Re:And, as usual... (Score:3, Funny)
He's not real!
Re:500k isnt that much (Score:5, Funny)
500k should be enough for everybody.
Re:I was scammed by these guys (Score:1, Funny)
Re:These people should be considered heroes (Score:5, Funny)
Re:yro? (Score:2, Funny)
This seems to be more of a (-1 JFGI) post.
So, uhh, what does JFGI mean?
But... But... But it runs on IIS! (Score:4, Funny)
Safersys.org runs IIS on Windows Server 2003.
I really wonder how these hackers managed to crack they way into such a well-known paragon of security and reliability.
Re:Wait... (Score:5, Funny)
ya, but there is no insurance or matching 401k.
Re:Wait... (Score:5, Funny)
I don't understand. Can you repeat this with Alice, Bob, Carol and Ted?
Re:Owner of a trucking company speaks out. (Score:1, Funny)
Re:Wait... (Score:5, Funny)
No. In this case it's got to be Anastasia, Boris, Katya and Taras.
Re:yro? (Score:3, Funny)
Re:These people should be considered heroes (Score:2, Funny)