'Speed' in a grocery store? FBI investigates telecommuting robbers

High-tech foreign criminals may have hacked into retail security systems in order to remotely monitor customers and employees in the course of at least 12 bold robberies in as many states during the past week, officials say. FBI agents are seeking an individual or group of conspirators who have been calling stores and banks from Texas to Kansas to Rhode Island on pre-paid, overseas cellphones and informing whomever picks up that a bomb will be detonated at the location if funds are not wired to a specific offshore account. What's more, the caller claims to have visual surveillance of the premises and proceeds to give certain accurate details about the environment -- in one case attempting to get a hostage to cut off another's fingers, and in another forcing everyone in the store to strip naked. CNN is reporting that at least $13,000 has been extorted so far -- though the total is likely much higher -- and that investigators are now pursuing a suspect in Portugal "who appears to be linked to the account number" that the money is being transferred to.

Read- CNN
Read- KPHO

[Via Slashdot]

[Mr Angry @ Aug 30th 2007 1:47PM]

This happened to me!

Someone phoned me up and told me to undress quickly or there would be trouble, I of course agreed. He got my clothing description 100% wrong but he was so insistant. He had a thick European accent. After 5 minutes they told me I was OK and I could get dressed again.

He didn't ask for any money, he actually PayPal'ed me funnily enough.

[Mull @ Aug 30th 2007 2:05PM]

The whole cutting the fingers off of someone else kinda scares me. Being stabbed in the gut I could handle, but being finger nub boy, that would be annoying as hell for the rest of my life.

[Grizz @ Aug 30th 2007 2:06PM]

Thats right Jack! I'm watching you, SHREAD THE NOTE NOW! Shred it now or she dies!

[Lazerface @ Aug 30th 2007 10:57PM]

Pop Quiz Hotshot!

[dextro @ Aug 30th 2007 2:12PM]

I'm not Portuguese... No sir, I'm not... I don't even know the country that sits next to Spain in Western Europe no sir... xD

[Sturmgeist @ Aug 31st 2007 6:19AM]

You're actually proud to know where Portugal is? That's like... really, really sad...

[dextro @ Aug 31st 2007 7:03AM]

No, I'm actually Portuguese and proud of it.

[NHAnimator @ Aug 30th 2007 2:24PM]

Dennis Hopper is hard up for money? Who da thunk.

[netposer @ Aug 30th 2007 2:25PM]

The "stripping" scenario was already covered in an episode of "Criminal Minds" last season.

[Rich @ Aug 30th 2007 3:28PM]

This happened to a Wal-Mart close to me in Newport, RI. Wal-Mart paid $10,000 in three separate wire transfers (as reported in the Providence Journal).

[Maff @ Aug 30th 2007 5:10PM]

thing is the crooks have probably spent more in walmart than they got wired!

[Mark @ Aug 30th 2007 5:21PM]

Pics? Videos? TORRENTS?

lolz

[pogimestiso @ Aug 31st 2007 3:39AM]

Oh Great! Now someone is going to think that Dennis Hopper is behind this! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

[G @ Aug 31st 2007 9:05AM]

so did they ever actually find a bomb in any of the stores? sounds like the ultimate prank call to me...

[UnnDunn @ Aug 31st 2007 12:42PM]

"It was the watch that led them to me, wasn't it?"