Message-ID: <E1AeFSn-0007FH-00@smtp03.mrf.mail.rcn.net>
From: rms at computerbytesman.com (Richard M. Smith)
Subject: Alleged IT security extortion plot against BestBuy.com

http://www.startribune.com/stories/535/4304797.html
 
Feds thwart extortion plot against Best Buy
David Phelps, Star Tribune 
 
Published January 7, 2004 BEST07 

Federal authorities said Tuesday they thwarted an extortion plot against
Best Buy Co. Inc. by a man who sent the company an e-mail threatening to
expose what he claimed were weaknesses in the retailer's computer system
unless he was paid $2.5 million. 

Thomas E. Ray III, a 25-year-old Jackson, Miss., resident, made his first
Minnesota court appearance Tuesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Earl Cudd.
He pleaded not guilty and was released on $10,000 bail.

Ray faces two felony charges of making extortion threats to damage property
or reputation and extortion threats to damage computers. He is being
represented by Minneapolis attorney Rick Petry.

He was indicted in federal court in Mississippi in mid-December and accused
of making a series of threats in October to Richfield-based Best Buy about
the security of its BestBuy.com site. No security breaches were made into
the system, Best Buy said.

Federal investigators became involved after security officials at Best Buy
contacted federal authorities about the demands. The Minnesota CyberCrime
Task Force also took part in the investigation, as did America Online and
Netscape, Internet service providers that Ray used.

According to the indictment, Ray made the e-mail demands to Best Buy under
the name and Internet address of "Jamie Weathersby, IPC Corp."

....

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