A master computer hacker preyed on human nature to steal hundreds of thousands of dollars from unwary Internet users, federal prosecutors in Kansas City say.
They allege that Sael Mustafa took advantage of a common mistake many people make — using the same user name and password on multiple online accounts — to reap huge rewards at the expense of hundreds of victims.
“Some aspects of Mustafa’s scheme were very complex and technical, and required considerable computer expertise, and others were alarmingly simple and provide a cautionary tale for an unwary Internet user,” prosecutors said.
On Monday during a four-hour sentencing hearing in federal court, they outlined the extensive investigation that stretched from Gladstone to the Middle East and involved victims from California to New Jersey.
U.S. District Judge Fernando Gaitan took the case under advisement to do additional legal research about the length of sentence Mustafa, 42, should receive after pleading guilty to aiding and abetting mail fraud.
Read the complete story at kansascity.com