** If you want cybercrime related info a few times a week, subscribe to my cybercrime-alerts at http://techPolice.com ----- High-Speed Chase in Cyberspace Authorities are racing to catch one of the government's most wanted fugitives. But the only clues they have are complaints of hundreds of victims he allegedly conned online. By Jack Karp TECH TV June 11, 2001 Return to Regular View Law enforcement agents are hot on the trail of a man federal authorities are calling "the Internet's John Dillinger." Jay Nelson is suspected of bilking eBay and Yahoo! auction users out of hundreds of thousands of dollars over the past few years, auctioning off items for hundreds of dollars each and never delivering the promised goods. According to authorities, the 33-year-old New Hampshire man has a history of signing on to auction sites using a fake screen name. He allegedly bought small items and paid for them legitimately, developing a history of positive feedback. From there, authorities say, Nelson began auctioning off hundreds of nonexistent items for thousands of dollars. Customers read his auction profile, saw that he had paid for a series of small items on time, and assumed he was trustworthy. The items Nelson was allegedly hawking were never delivered. "Nelson has pretty much done nothing else for the last few years but working on these online auctions," US Postal Inspector Tom Higgins told "CyberCrime's" Alex Wellen from Boston. According to Higgins, Nelson specialized in computer components, scanners, hard drives, digital camers, and other popular, big-ticket items. In June 2000, for instance, Nelson allegedly used the name "harddrives4sale" to run 153 auctions on Yahoo! Following those auctions, 141 of the "winners" filed complaints. In August 2000, Nelson allegedly used the names "more gr8stuff" and "cwilly1955" to run another 167 auctions, all with similar results. In every case, Nelson allegedly used his collection of screen names to build a history of positive feedback before beginning his scams. Nelson also allegedly obtained a credit card number from one of his winning bidders and then used that card number to open an AOL account under the name Charles Williams and to purchase subscriptions at several pornographic websites. No one knows how much money Nelson has managed to make off his alleged fake auctions over the past few years. But in the three-month period from April to July 2000, authorities estimate, Nelson was able to collect approximately $84,000 in just one PayPal account. PayPal accounts enable consumers of Internet services to pay for those services via a third party. Government authorities became suspicious of Nelson and eventually caught up with him earlier this year. Investigators raided the suspect's Gilsum, New Hampshire, home last fall and filed a criminal complaint with the US District Court in New Hampshire this past January. He was indicted by a grand jury for wire fraud on February 7. But Nelson disappeared on February 14, shortly after a judge released him on bail. Law enforcement agents have been trying to track the alleged fraudster ever since, chasing him from hotel to hotel, always arriving just days after he checked out. Meanwhile, Nelson, who has been placed on the US Postal Inspector's most wanted list for wire fraud, is apparently continuing his fraudulent pursuits to fund his escape. In one of his most recent cons, Nelson allegedly used the screen name "Skunkker" to collect thousands of dollars from unsuspecting auction users. Authorities have no idea just how many scams Nelson has committed since going on the lam this past February. But they are asking Internet users who have been conned to step forward and provide information. If you think you have been scammed by Nelson or know someone who has, please email us at [EMAIL PROTECTED] ============================================================ Imagine-Your-Name-Here.com Wouldn�t it be great to have your own personalized Domain Name? New Domains & Transfers $8.95/yr & lower. GoDaddy.com is an ICANN ACCREDITED registrar. ACT NOW! http://click.topica.com/caaab3Kb1dh6Ob1xTSPf/GoDaddy ============================================================ *have anything good to share? Send it to me at [EMAIL PROTECTED] * for interactive tech help http://theMezz.com/tech ==^================================================================ EASY UNSUBSCRIBE click here: http://topica.com/u/?b1dh6O.b1xTSP Or send an email To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] This email was sent to: [email protected] T O P I C A -- Register now to manage your mail! http://www.topica.com/partner/tag02/register ==^================================================================
