Computer Fraud, Reloaded

If you have a gun and you're using it for the wrong purposes, you end up in prison, and if you are using your computer or the computers at work for the wrong purpose, that could get you fired, or even worse. In today's story, playing dirty with his company's computers lead Mario Simbaqueba Bonilla straight to a federal prison, and not only for a few months...


The 40 years old Colombian man pleaded guilty in court to conspiracy, aggravated identity theft, and access device fraud. Between 2004 and 2007, he and his coconspirator had over 600 worldwide victims, and the funny part is that some of those that have lost their privacy because what Mario Bonilla did were employees of the US Department of Defense! Anyway, what did that guy do, after all?

During the period mentioned above, Mario Simbaqueba Bonilla installed keyloggers on hotel business center computers and Internet lounges, and by using them, he stole passwords and other personal data entered by those that used those public computers afterwards. After stealing the personal data, Bonilla and his partner used complex methods to steal money from the hijacked accounts, and bought various things, such as electronics or luxury travels to Hong Kong, France, Jamaica, and other places.

While the court pegged the actual and attempted losses at $1.4 million, Bonilla was sentenced to 9 years in prison, paying a restitution of $347,000, as well as 3 years of being supervised after the release. That should teach him, don't you think? Anyway, they surely need to keep an eye on him in prison, because if he gets near a computer...