Several Romanian-based phishing scams were brought to light on Monday as 38 people were charged with stealing names, Social Security numbers, credit card data and other personal information from unsuspecting Internet users. This global crime ring sought to rip off thousands of consumers and hundreds of financial institutions, according to indictments unsealed in Los Angeles and New Haven, Conn. The two cases, which were linked by two Romanians who participated in both schemes, marked the latest example of what the Justice Department describes as a growing worldwide threat posed by organized crime.
"International organized crime poses a serious threat not only to the United States and Romania, but to all nations," Deputy Attorney General Mark R. Filip said in a statement from Bucharest, where he announced the charges. "Criminals who exploit the power and convenience of the Internet do not recognize national borders; therefore our efforts to prevent their attacks cannot end at our borders either."