Security News > 2021 > September > Romance, BEC Scams Lands Soldier in Jail for 46 Months

A former Army reservist was just sentenced to 46 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $2 million in penalties and restitution, after pleading guilty to scamming dozens of people online, including the elderly and a veteran's organization for Marines.

"Among the many victims of the internet scams facilitated by Joseph Asan Jr. were elderly women and men who were callously fooled into believing they were engaging online with potential romantic interests," Manhattan U.S. Attorney Audrey Strauss said.

The first type of attack was a straightforward romance scam where Asan and Ogozy would pose as a romantic interest of an elderly person and trick them into wiring him cash.

Law enforcement traced 69 identified victims and $1.8 in stolen money to 10 businesses and accounts at eight different banks, all controlled by Asan, adding that they think there was more stolen money they couldn't track down.

More than $1.8 billion was stolen through BEC attacks in 2020 alone, according to a report Cisco's Talos Intelligence.

In addition to recognizable business brands, BEC attacks continue small, local governments including those in Ocala, Fla., which was rooked out of $740,000; and Cabarrus County, N.C. which lost $2.5 million, both to BEC attacks.

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https://threatpost.com/romance-bec-scams-soldier-jail/169434/