The case in summary: A northern Norwegian man in his 30s is charged with defrauding Amazon of up to NOK 10 million over a period of eight years. The man is said to have gained access to US user accounts on Amazon, tricked customer service into refunding purchases, and then used the credit to buy digital codes which he resold. The FBI tipped off Kripos about the man after seizing and shutting down a website where the man bought access information. The man is charged with serious fraud and serious money laundering, both of which carry a penalty of six years in prison. He has acknowledged the circumstances and there will be a simplified treatment in the form of a confession sentence. The summary is made by an AI service from OpenAI. The content is quality assured by news’s journalists before publication. It was the FBI who tipped off Kripos about the man from Troms, who is now charged with serious fraud and serious money laundering. – What we can say for sure is that he has received at least NOK 6.5 million in the form of cryptocurrency and other forms of online payment services. But the defrauded amount on Amazon is probably even higher, perhaps up to NOK 10 million, says police prosecutor Eivind Kluge in Kripos. In 2021, the online giant had a turnover of approximately 470 billion US dollars and over 1.6 million employees, according to Store norske lexikon. Photo: Ross D. Franklin / AP The man in his 30s is said to have obtained access data to American user accounts on the online store. He has managed this partly by buying access directly from online marketplaces, and partly by using software designed to steal that type of information. – He then used those access details to log in to American user accounts on Amazon, and used this access to lead customer service to refund a purchase, says Kluge. In this way, the man has obtained credit in the online store which he has used to buy digital codes which he sold on. Nordlys mentioned the charge first. This is how Norwegian police work internationally: Kripos works closely with both Interpol and Europol to fight international crime, including online fraud. Through Interpol, Kripos participates in global intelligence, exchange of information and coordination of operations across national borders. Europol offers support in investigations, analytical services, and facilitates joint operations in Europe. Kripos coordinates its international cooperation with deployed Nordic liaison officers in various countries around the world, who can contribute to cooperation across national borders. This is how the cooperation takes place: As the contact and coordination point for the exchange of information, Kripos will facilitate cooperation, give advice, convey requests to and from abroad. They also assist foreign police with cases that have ramifications to Norway. Kripos also provides assistance in identifying and notifying relatives, who go via Kripos to the appropriate police district. Kripos is also responsible for investigating Norwegian or foreign citizens living in Norway who are suspected of having committed war crimes and genocide. Source: Kripos More charges and convictions following international cooperation Several serious cases in Norway, with international ramifications, have been brought up recently, following international police cooperation. Up to six years in prison The reason the Tromsø man was discovered is that the FBI seized and shut down a website where the man had previously bought access information. The FBI tipped off the Norwegian police about the case, and last year the man was arrested. – We know that he has been doing this for at least eight years until he was arrested, says the police attorney. Kluge is not aware that this type of fraud has been carried out by a Norwegian citizen in the past. The man is said to have logged into the accounts of American users and tricked customer service into refunding purchases he had not made. Photo: DENIS CHARLET / AFP The man is also charged with computer intrusion and possession of access information. – What will be most decisive for sentencing is serious fraud and serious money laundering, both of which carry a penalty of six years in prison, says Kluge. The man has acknowledged the conditions for which he has been charged, and there will be a simplified treatment in the form of a confession in Nord-Troms and Senja district court next month. Published 29/08/2024, at 07.47 Updated 29.08.2024, at 09.41
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Man from Troms defrauded the online giant Amazon for up to NOK 10 million – news Troms and Finnmark
