Hackers Steal Printer Cartridges from FBI and Other US Agencies

The Washington Free Beacon reported that printer cartridges worth $1.5 million were stolen from FBI, Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and General Services Administration (GSA) through the placing of false contract orders; with law enforcement officials reportedly stating that such cases are "increasing".

GSA alerted vendors that the crime had been committed against itself, the FBI and EPA since July 2012, with a series of fraudulent orders placed online to GSA vendors from hackers posing as federal contracting officials. The orders were for HP toner cartridges, and were placed by individuals using official employee credentials but fake email addresses and telephone numbers as well as stolen credit cards.

Some of the orders totaled as much as $20,000 worth of printer cartridges, with Scott Orbach, President of EZGSA – a company that facilitates GSA contracts – commenting that officials should beware of "unusually large quantities or high-value orders" as well as shipments to "unusual addresses".

Source: The Recycler