FTC settles with Blackbaud over ransomware and data breach

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 US shuts down major Chinese hacking operation aimed at US infrastructure
 
Thoughts on fraud prosecutions.   Tackling mass marketing fraud is hard. The cases are complicated, perpetrators are often in other counties, and evidence can be hard to gather.  So a salute to those who do this.  But I’ve heard people say we “can’t prosecute our way out of crime.”  Given that human beings are imperfect this is surely true. But with work you can keep it to a minimum.  If we prosecuted no burglaries or car thefts is there any question that those would skyrocket?  Prosecutions do indeed create a great deal of deterrence.  Of course education and disruption can also help.
 

Fraud Studies: Here are links to the studies I’ve written for the Better Business Bureau: puppy fraud, romance fraud; BEC fraud, sweepstakes/lottery fraud,  tech support fraud, romance fraud money mules, crooked movers, government imposters, online vehicle sale scams, rental fraud, gift cards,  free trial offer frauds,  job scams,  online shopping fraud,  fake check fraudand crypto scams

 
Fraud News Around the world

• Ireland: 60 younger people charged with acting as money mules
• Move over diabetic test strips -- Medicare scammers sign people up for remote testing they don’t need and do other types of medicare fraud
• New MasterCard AI detects fraudulent transactions
• Singapore: Police are investigating 367 scammers and money mules from 1000 or more cases involving losses of $10 million
• Houston: Nigerian man pleads guilty to investment and inheritance fraud with victim in 20 countries

Humor 

• Naked Florida woman barges into gas station and threatens to kill staff with an apple peeler

FTC and CFPB

• FTC settles with Blackbaud over ransomware and data breach

Artificial Intelligence and deep fake fraud
 
Virus Benefit Theft 

• Las Vegas: Man gets 2.5 years prison for PPP fraud done while on probation from previous felony
• New Orleans: Man pleads guilty to PPP fraud
• Delaware: Former police officer pleads guilty to PPP fraud
• Baltimore: Woman pleads guilty to PPP fraud; got $3.5 million
• San Diego: Man indicted for PPP and tax fraud
• Florida: Former Broward police lieutenant charged with PPP fraud

Bitcoin and cryptocurrency

• Italy: Man goes to prison for crypto investment fraud
• SEC sues American Bitcoin Academy; charges it got students to put money in investment fraud

Romance Fraud and Sextortion 

• Nigeria: Man gets 30 months prison for romance fraud; pretended to be US soldier
• Crypto romance frauds adapt to using DeFi apps to take money from victims