Hacker of ‘Internet Shopping Malls’ Under Arrest

Online fraudsters are getting ready to target online shoppers this holiday season, similar to pickpockets aiming busy shopping malls.

Lee, 35, has been taken into custody for buying items over the net much below their actual prices. He developed a hacking program, which allowed him to enter arbitrary prices and yet the trader would deliver him the articles without even making sure the price paid. This was how Lee began his online theft.

First, he made an order for a box of diapers. Lee keyed the price as 1,500 won, while the actual price was 15,000 won. But the Internet shopping mall was misled by the price being matched with that of the 'payment agency'. Lee, with the help of his hacking program, altered the price shown by the agency. Thus, the mall shipped the box of diapers to Lee without confirming the real price.

Initially, Lee bought relatively cheap items like medicine, perfumes and cosmetics. e at a price of only 10% of the real prices. Then he tried with more costly goods such as GPS car navigation modules, vacuum cleaners, computer parts and PDAs, manipulating their prices at only a few thousands. Further, he sold some of the items via net auction sites earning millions of won.

To be on the safer side, Lee generally bought a single item from every online shopping center. While this was going on, one site noticed the large difference between the Lee's ordering price and the original price and so contacted the police.

The 'National Police Agency's Cyber Terror Response Center' took Lee in custody for robbing six million won by cheating 45 Internet shopping malls over the last year and a half. In connection to Lee's successful attempts to trick online sales Websites, , a Center official, Jeong Seok-hwa, stressed on the need for strengthening Internet programs linked to making orders and payment modes.

According to security experts, it is possible to minimize risks if consumers followed some common guidelines. Use of firewalls and security software, dealing only with reputable merchants, and avoiding use of open wireless network are some of the measures. Consumers must also take caution while disclosing financial information.

Related article: Hacker & Virus in MySpace

» SPAMfighter News - 12/21/2006