Operation Cybersnare Explained

Operation Cybersnare was a sting operation by United States Secret Service targeted at computer hackers. This was the first undercover Internet sting of its kind. Elaborate ruses were designed by law enforcement agencies to trap computer criminals. The operation lasted for 8 months.^[1]

The sting resulted in arrests of six individuals and the breakup of a sophisticated cell phone fraud ring.^[2] These individuals stole millions of dollars worth of data.^[3]

History

In January 1995, the Secret Service set up an undercover bulletin board system called “Celco 51” in Bergen County, New Jersey. It was a forum for the purchase of stolen cellular phone access numbers, credit card numbers and personal identity information. An agent served as the board’s operator using the computer moniker “Carder One”.^{[4] [5]}

The undercover agents advertised this bulletin board as "catering to individuals involved in unauthorized computer intrusion and all aspects of computer fraud, including cellular telephone fraud."^[6]

In September 1995, Individuals who stole and offered illicit products for sale in the group were identified and arrested.^[7] Twelve raids across the country resulted in the arrest of six hackers. More than 30 systems were seized.^{[8] [9]} It also led to the confiscation of 65 illegally programmed phones and 14 readers.^[10]

Arrests

• Richard Lacap or Chillin, of Katy, Texas, was charged with conspiring to break into the computer system of an Oregon Cellular Telephone company.^[11]
• Kevin Watkins or Led, of Houston, Texas, was charged conspiring to break into the computer system of an Oregon Cellular Telephone company.^[12]
• Jeremy Golle Cushing or Alpha Bits, of Huntington Beach, California, was charged with trafficking cloned cellular telephone equipment and stolen access devices used to program cellular telephones.^[13]
• Frank Natoli or Mmind, of Brooklyn, New York, was charged with trafficking in stolen access devices used to program cellular telephones.
• Al Bradford or Cellfone, of Detroit, Michigan, was charged with trafficking in unauthorized access devices used to program cellular telephones.
• Michael Clarkson or Barcode, of Brooklyn, New York, was charged with possessing and trafficking in hardware used to obtain unauthorized access to telecommunications services.

References

1. Web site: 6 Caught In 'Cyber-Sting' The Seattle Times . 2024-03-14 . archive.seattletimes.com . 2023-09-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230926181931/https://archive.seattletimes.com/archive/?date=19950913&slug=2141359 . live .
2. Book: Bauerschmidt . Tim . Driving Miss Norma . Liddle . Ramie . 2017-05-04 . Transworld . 978-1-4735-4358-4 . en . 2024-03-14 . 2024-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314195434/https://books.google.com/books?id=RJBgDQAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PT101&dq=Operation+Cybersnare&hl=en . live .
3. Book: FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin . 1998 . Federal Bureau of Investigation, U.S. Department of Justice . en . 2024-03-14 . 2024-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314195446/https://books.google.com/books?id=kmdNAQAAMAAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=RA4-SA1998-PA24&dq=Operation+Cybersnare&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Operation%20Cybersnare&f=false . live .
4. Book: Wall, DavidS . Crime and Deviance in Cyberspace . 2017-07-05 . Routledge . 978-1-351-57076-3 . en . 2024-03-14 . 2024-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314195453/https://books.google.com/books?id=ZD0rDwAAQBAJ&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA557&dq=Operation+Cybersnare&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Operation%20Cybersnare&f=false . live .
5. Book: Cryptography's Role in Securing the Information Society . 1996 . 10.17226/5131 . 978-0-309-05475-1 . en . 2024-03-14 . 2023-12-09 . https://web.archive.org/web/20231209174135/https://nap.nationalacademies.org/read/5131/chapter/7 . live .
6. WHEN DOES A "HACKER" BECOME AN "ATTACKER?" . United States Army Command and General Staff College . 2024-03-14 . 2024-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314195324/https://apps.dtic.mil/sti/pdfs/ADA366206.pdf . live .
7. Book: Cryptography's Role in Securing the Information Society . 1996-10-29 . National Academies Press . 978-0-309-17580-7 . en . 2024-03-14 . 2024-03-14 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240314195319/https://books.google.com/books?id=s_dOdEN-1R8C&newbks=0&printsec=frontcover&pg=PA92&dq=Operation+Cybersnare&hl=en#v=onepage&q=Operation%20Cybersnare&f=false . live .
8. Web site: 1995-09-11 -- Cybersnare Sting -- Arrests -- News Release . 2024-03-14 . irp.fas.org . 2022-12-06 . https://web.archive.org/web/20221206064031/https://irp.fas.org/news/1995/nj62_txt.html . live .
9. Web site: Gregson . Reily . 1999-11-30 . SECRET SERVICE ATTACKS CELLULAR FRAUD AT SOURCE, STOPS COMPUTER HACKERS . 2024-03-14 . RCR Wireless News . en-US . 2023-08-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827054952/https://www.rcrwireless.com/19950918/archived-articles/secret-service-attacks-cellular-fraud-at-source-stops-computer-hackers . live .
10. Web site: Boucher . Geoff . 1995-09-13 . On-Line Sting Just the Beginning, Says Cyber-Sleuth Squad . 2024-03-14 . Los Angeles Times . en-US . 2023-08-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827054944/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-13-me-45480-story.html . live .
11. Web site: 2019-01-26 . Internet Sting Operation Nets Six Attempting to Sell Stolen Data . . 2024-03-14 . 2019-01-26 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190126113859/https://apnews.com/22eda2455261dfb9133be63dcd196b9c/ . bot: unknown .
12. News: 1995-09-12 . Secret Service Goes On Line and After Hackers (Published 1995) . 2024-03-14 . en . 2023-05-18 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230518061925/https://www.nytimes.com/1995/09/12/nyregion/secret-service-goes-on-line-and-after-hackers.html . live .
13. Web site: Boucher . Geoff . 1995-09-12 . Computer Hacker Snared in Cyber-Sting : Technology: Huntington Beach man is one of six arrested in alleged plot to steal credit card and cellular phone codes. . 2024-03-14 . Los Angeles Times . en-US . 2023-08-27 . https://web.archive.org/web/20230827054947/https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-12-me-44940-story.html . live .

Further reading

• A British Hacker in America: The Story of Pmf & 'Operation Cybersnare' - The U.S. Secret Service's First Online Sting
• CTIA press release: "Wireless Industry Salutes U.S. Secret Service", 11 September 1995. (Archived)
• Documentary - Hackers 95 (1995, Phon-E and R F Burns)
• OPERATION CYBERSNARE ARTICLES AND LINKS ARCHIVE