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A cyber security expert has been the target of cyber criminals after suffering a number of attacks over the past year. Brian Krebs, who... Hackers Fail in Plot to Frame Security Expert

A cyber security expert has been the target of cyber criminals after suffering a number of attacks over the past year.

Brian Krebs, who formerly worked for The Washington Post outing online scammers, now blogs about security on Krebs on Security.

Back in March he described how his website suffered a denail-of-service attack, whilst armed police officers surrounded his home in Annandale, Virginia in response to false and anonymous emergency call claiming Kreb’s wife had been shot.

But the latest attack from the criminals was “the most elaborate” so far. “Earlier this month, the administrator of an exclusive cybercrime forum hatched and executed a plan to purchase heroin, have it mailed to my home, and then spoof a phone call from one of my neighbors alerting the local police,” Krebs explained on his blog.

Heroin Posted to Brian Krebs home

13 baggies of heroin were sent to Brian Krebs home

 

On July 14 the alleged administrator of a Russian-language forum on ID theft and fraud, who goes by the username “fly” or “Flycracker”, published a post requesting bitcoin donations so that they could purchase heroin from the online marketplace Silk Road. The heroin would then be mailed to Krebs address. However Krebs had already infiltrated the forum and was able to watch the plan unfold. Flycracker, who was unaware that Krebs was observing the situation, raised $200-worth of bitcoins and bought 1 gram or 12 baggies of heroin on Silk Road, using the name “briankrebs7”.

Krebs alerted the local police and the FBI of his knowledge and when 13 baggies of heroin arrived on his doorstep, the police arrived to seize it.

“Without actually having the substance tested at a lab, I can’t say for certain whether this is talcum powder or the real thing,” Krebs concludes, “Nevertheless, if I receive any testing results from the local police, I’ll update this blog post.”

Krebs has also said that he will reveal more about the identity of Flycracker in a later post.

[Image via krebsonsecurity]

Source: http://www.theverge.com/2013/7/30/4571096/brian-krebs-foiled-heroin-framing-plot