(Washington, D.C.) – The United States Secret Service today made public multiple international arrests as part of ongoing anti-cyber crime initiatives. These covert Internetbased
investigations target individuals who involve themselves in various types of illegal activities to include the manufacture, purchase, sale, and exploitation of various financial
instruments and personal identification information and documents.
“Technology has forever changed the way commerce is conducted, virtually erasing geographic boundaries,” said Michael Stenger, Assistant Director of the U.S. Secret
Service Office of Investigations. “While these advances continue to have a profound impact on the financial crimes we investigate, sharing information and resources through
international partnerships is the best way to combat these types of crimes.”
Operation Lord Kaisersose
Operation Lord Kaisersose is an ongoing covert Internet investigation based out of the Secret Service’s Miami Field Office. In conjunction with this investigation, agents were
able to identify an individual known as “Lord Kaisersose.” “Lord Kaisersose” was associated with Internet sites known for identity theft and financial fraud activities. The
Secret Service investigation uncovered online transactions with “Lord Kaisersose,” including the sale of access device numbers compromised through commercial databases.
On June 12, 2007, French National Police (FNP) officials, based on information provided by the U.S. Secret Service, executed arrest and search warrants upon “Lord Kaisersose,”
a French citizen, and three additional associates. FNP officials recovered multiple laptop/desktop computer systems, external hard drives and illegal weapons.
Additionally, search warrants conducted by Miami agents on electronic media associated with “Lord Kaisersose” revealed in excess of 28,000 compromised access device
numbers. Fraud losses associated with this investigation have exceeded $14 million.
Operation Hard Drive
Operation Hard Drive is an ongoing covert operation being coordinated by the U.S. Secret Service’s Buffalo Field Office. With the cooperation of the French National
Police (FNP) and the Calgary Police Service, the operation has led to arrests in France and Canada of individuals who together are responsible for more than $1 million in fraud
losses.
Investigation uncovered an individual using the screen name “THEEEEL,” a resident of Marseille, France, through his association with Internet sites known for illegal carding
activity. Investigators discovered online transactions conducted by “THEEEEL,” including the purchase of thousands of dollars worth of stolen access device numbers.
On June 12, 2007, acting on the information provided by the U.S. Secret Service, the FNP executed arrest and search warrants upon “THEEEEL” and his residence, recovering
evidence and/or contraband associated with illegal carding activity including multiple external hard drives, skimming and encoding devices, counterfeit identification and
counterfeit credit cards.
Nicholas Joehle, of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, using the screen name “Dron” was identified as a primary suspect in the sale of high-quality “skimmers” over the Internet.
Over the past year, Operation Hard Drive investigators discovered numerous global online sales of these skimmers by Joehle. On May 25, 2007, Secret Service agents from
the Buffalo and Vancouver offices assisted Calgary Police Service officials in executing a search warrant. One hundred skimmers in various stages of production, a skimmer
manufacturing lab and $30,000 in genuine U.S. and Canadian currency were recovered as a result of the search.
Joehle has since been charged by Canadian officials with violating Canadian statutes governing the import and export of credit card alteration/forgery devices, possession of
credit card alteration/forgery devices and possession of criminal proceeds.
“The success of these investigations is a direct result of the excellent partnerships that exists between the Secret Service and our international law enforcement partners,” said
Assistant Director Stenger.