Security News > 2024 > August > Deadbeat dad faked his own death by hacking government databases

A US man has been sentenced to 81 months in jail for faking his own death by hacking government systems and officially marking himself as deceased.

In January 2023 Kipf used the credentials of a physician to access Hawaii's Death Registry System and create a "Case" that recorded his own death.

"Kipf then completed a State of Hawaii Death Certificate Worksheet, assigned himself as the medical certifier for the case and certified his death, using the digital signature of the doctor," the DoJ wrote.

The paperwork was all correct, so many government databases listed Kipf as deceased.

Evidence tendered in court included internet search histories recorded on a laptop, with Kipf looking up terms including "Remove California child support for deceased."

Not satisfied with faking his own death, Kipf stole other credentials and used them to access other states' death registries, private business networks, and governmental and corporate networks.

News URL

https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2024/08/21/man_jailed_faking_death_online/