An expert Algerian computer hacker accused of stealing more than $10 million dollars from banks worldwide was arrested by Immigration police at Suvarnabhumi Airport. The elusive hacker had been on the U.S. list of 10 Most Wanted criminals for several years.
BANGKOK – January 7, 2013 [PDN]; at 11 a.m., the arrest of an internationally-wanted computer criminal was announced at the Office of Immigration by Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanu Kerdlarpphol, Commissioner of the Office of Immigration; Pol. Maj. Gen. Preecha Thimamontri, Deputy Commissioner; Pol. Maj. Prot Setthakorn, Inspector police of detecting and subduing, immigration 2; with the detective police team.
The suspect was identified as Mr. Hamza Bendillardge, age 24, nationality Algerian. He was arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport, and is charged with crossing national borders to commit crimes, according to the arrest warrant 7/2556, dated January 4, 2013.
Police seized the evidence of a Samsung notebook computer, a Mac Air notebook, a Microsoft tablet, a phone satellite and many external hard disks.
Before his arrest, Mr. Hamza had been vacationing with his family in Malaysia, and was on his way to Cairo, Egypt. But he was arrested during a layover at Suvarnabhumi airport to transfer planes on his Egyptian Airlines flight.
During a background check, officials discovered that Mr. Hamza began his criminal activity in 2008. He was on America’s Ten Most Wanted list and was hunted by U.S. authorities for three years.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanu revealed that Mr. Hamza is an expert in computer skills, after graduating from colleges with a major in the computer field. After college, Mr. Hamza used his skills to hack into commercial banks in the U.S.A. to steal information from account holders, which he used to steal funds.
After his arrest, Mr. Hamza confessed to becoming an illegal computer hacker immediately after graduating from college. He said he was not affiliated with any criminal group. He worked alone and committed his crimes from locations around the world.
The money he made from computer hacking was spent on traveling and personal expenses, he said. It is estimated that Mr. Hamza has stolen the equivalent of more than $10 million U.S. dollars from various bank accounts.
Officials estimated that more than 217 computers worldwide have been attacked by viruses sent by Mr. Hamza, with total losses from theft and damages in many millions of dollars.
Initially, the police will send Mr. Hamza to the U.S.A. to prosecute on charges of cheating banks through electronic means, according to the arrest warrant of the district court of the state of Georgia in the U.S.A.
Source: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2013/01/08/world-class-computer-hacker-arrested-at-airport/
BANGKOK – January 7, 2013 [PDN]; at 11 a.m., the arrest of an internationally-wanted computer criminal was announced at the Office of Immigration by Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanu Kerdlarpphol, Commissioner of the Office of Immigration; Pol. Maj. Gen. Preecha Thimamontri, Deputy Commissioner; Pol. Maj. Prot Setthakorn, Inspector police of detecting and subduing, immigration 2; with the detective police team.
The suspect was identified as Mr. Hamza Bendillardge, age 24, nationality Algerian. He was arrested at Suvarnabhumi airport, and is charged with crossing national borders to commit crimes, according to the arrest warrant 7/2556, dated January 4, 2013.
Police seized the evidence of a Samsung notebook computer, a Mac Air notebook, a Microsoft tablet, a phone satellite and many external hard disks.
Before his arrest, Mr. Hamza had been vacationing with his family in Malaysia, and was on his way to Cairo, Egypt. But he was arrested during a layover at Suvarnabhumi airport to transfer planes on his Egyptian Airlines flight.
During a background check, officials discovered that Mr. Hamza began his criminal activity in 2008. He was on America’s Ten Most Wanted list and was hunted by U.S. authorities for three years.
Pol. Lt. Gen. Phanu revealed that Mr. Hamza is an expert in computer skills, after graduating from colleges with a major in the computer field. After college, Mr. Hamza used his skills to hack into commercial banks in the U.S.A. to steal information from account holders, which he used to steal funds.
After his arrest, Mr. Hamza confessed to becoming an illegal computer hacker immediately after graduating from college. He said he was not affiliated with any criminal group. He worked alone and committed his crimes from locations around the world.
The money he made from computer hacking was spent on traveling and personal expenses, he said. It is estimated that Mr. Hamza has stolen the equivalent of more than $10 million U.S. dollars from various bank accounts.
Officials estimated that more than 217 computers worldwide have been attacked by viruses sent by Mr. Hamza, with total losses from theft and damages in many millions of dollars.
Initially, the police will send Mr. Hamza to the U.S.A. to prosecute on charges of cheating banks through electronic means, according to the arrest warrant of the district court of the state of Georgia in the U.S.A.
Source: http://www.pattayadailynews.com/en/2013/01/08/world-class-computer-hacker-arrested-at-airport/
