PatrickPretty.com

Day: July 8, 2009

  • U.S. Secret Service Partners With European Agencies To Form Electronic Crimes Task Force Headquartered In Rome

    In what is bad news for cyber criminals and online financial hucksters, the U.S. Secret Service has announced a partnership with European law-enforcement agencies to form the first European Electronic Crimes Task Force.

    Officials signed a “memorandum of understanding,” with the Secret Service, Italian Police and the Italian Postal Service taking the lead roles. The Task Force will be based in Rome, and the principal Italian officials are Antonio Manganelli, chief of Italian Police, and  Massimo Sarmi, chief executive officer of the Italian Postal Service.

    The goals are to “provide a forum through which U.S. and European law enforcement agencies, the private sector and academia can collaborate to investigate, suppress and prevent computer- related crimes” and to “share relevant insight, expertise and resources between the international law enforcement community to combat the transnational cyber crimes which threaten the financial security of businesses and individuals worldwide,” the Secret Service said.

    “Cybercrime knows no borders,” said Secret Service Director Mark Sullivan. “We believe
    that partnerships at the international level are essential in combating the ever-changing
    landscape of cybercrimes.”

    The Task Force will combine European and U.S. expertise in investigating network intrusions, hacking cases, identity theft and other computer related crimes affecting financial and other critical infrastructures, the Secret Service said.

  • Two More Attorneys Added In RICO Lawsuit Against Andy Bowdoin; Move Comes On Heels Of AdViewGlobal Mention

    Plaintiffs suing AdSurfDaily President Andy Bowdoin for racketeering added two more attorneys to their roster this morning and have added a total of four since June 24. The plaintiffs now have attorneys in Washington, D.C., Phoenix, San Francisco and Mill Valley, Calif., on their side, perhaps with more formal notices of appearance to follow.

    Today’s move followed on the heels of a filing last week that cited the name of the AdViewGlobal (AVG) autosurf, describing it as the next iteration of AdSurfDaily and naming executives and employees the two surfs have in common.

    AVG has not been named a RICO defendant. It is unclear if the plaintiffs plan to add the surf’s name, but they have used AVG to illustrate an alleged pattern of racketeering. The plaintiffs seek class-action certification and treble damages in the ASD complaint.

    AVG has identified George and Judy Harris as its owners. George Harris is the stepson of ASD President Andy Bowdoin and the son of Bowdoin’s wife, Edna Faye Bowdoin. Judy Harris is the wife of George Harris.

    ASD attorney Robert Garner also is named a RICO defendant in the lawsuit. Bank of America is alleged to have aided and abetted a fraudulent scheme, but is not a RICO defendant.

    In recent days, AVG has closed its forum — a move made after the company said members were confusing other members. An AVG forum established by some Mods and members of the Pro-ASD Surf’s Up forum also has been closed, and Surf’s Up recently has deleted posts and content concerning AVG.

    As many as 30 ASD members are believed to be founders of AVG, which says it is a “private association” based in Uruguay.

    AVG recently has threatened to sue its members for sharing information outside the confines of the AVG “private association,” and also has threatened to sue media outlets that publish information its members share.

    Yesterday AVG implied in an announcement that it also might sue a subcontractor for not carrying out its contractual duties. Donna Rougeau, the subcontractor with Syndicate Digital of Canada, advised AVG members last week that she was leaving the firm.