Local Agents Bust Dozens in Major 'Phish Fry'

from KTLA News

LOS ANGELES -- Dozens of people are under arrest in Southern California, Nevada, North Carolina and Egypt in a major crackdown against identity theft.

The FBI launched "Operation Phish Fry" to bust an identity theft ring that has victimized thousands of people.

An FBI statement says an indictment unsealed Wednesday in Los Angeles charges more than 50 people in the United States with running the "phishing" scheme.

Egyptian authorities have charged another 47.

The FBI says it's the largest number of defendants ever charged in a cybercrime case.

Laura Eimiller, an FBI spokeswoman in Los Angeles, says the suspects are accused of running a "phishing" scheme that used computer intrusion and fraud to obtain personal information that allowed them to withdraw money from bank accounts. Egyptian hackers used e-mails to direct victims to phony bank Web sites, where they were to asked to provide account numbers and passwords. Authorities say the thieves then raided their bank accounts.

A large number of marijuana plants were found during a raid of a home in Baldwin Village belonging to a "key" player in the phishing scheme.

The FBI says 33 people were arrested Wednesday morning, mostly in Southern California, Nevada and North Carolina.

Eimiller says victims lost about $2 million dollars.