Bognor Regis teenager charged by USA over a hack of high profile Twitter users including Kanye West and Barack Obama
Mason Sheppard, from Bognor Regis, faces three charges in connection with an apparent cyber scam targeting around 130 accounts on the social media site on July 15.
The accounts affected included those of former US president Barack Obama, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and rapper Kanye West.
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Hide AdTweets were posted promoting a Bitcoin scam, promising followers they would receive double the amount of money back if they transferred funds to a digital wallet.
Sheppard, who US authorities say is also known as ‘Chaewon’, faces charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and the intentional access of a protected computer.
US Attorney for the Northern District of California David Anderson said Sheppard ‘faces a statutory maximum penalty of 45 years of imprisonment’ if convicted.
Nima Fazeli, 22, of Orlando, Florida, was charged with aiding and abetting the intentional access of a protected computer.
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Hide AdThe Department of Justice said charges had also been filed against a juvenile, who was not named.
Mr Anderson said: ‘There is a false belief within the criminal hacker community that attacks like the Twitter hack can be perpetrated anonymously and without consequence.
‘Today’s charging announcement demonstrates that the elation of nefarious hacking into a secure environment for fun or profit will be short-lived.
‘Criminal conduct over the Internet may feel stealthy to the people who perpetrate it, but there is nothing stealthy about it.
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Hide Ad‘In particular, I want to say to would-be offenders, break the law, and we will find you.’
The three charges were filed against Sheppard in the Northern District of California, which is where Twitter is located.