Deadbeat dad faked his own death by hacking government databases
- Reference: 1724225715
- News link: https://www.theregister.co.uk/2024/08/21/man_jailed_faking_death_online/
- Source link:
The US Department of Justice on Tuesday [1]detailed the case of Jesse Kipf, 39, who was sent down for computer fraud and aggravated identity theft.
In January 2023 Kipf used the credentials of a physician to access Hawaii's Death Registry System and create a "case" that recorded his own death.
[2]
"Kipf then completed a State of Hawaii Death Certificate Worksheet, assigned himself as the medical certifier for the case and certified his death, using the digital signature of the doctor," the DoJ wrote. The paperwork was all correct, so many government databases listed Kipf as deceased.
[3]
[4]
But he was very much alive and enjoying the fact that his "death" meant he didn't have make make child support payments or catch up on those he'd already missed. Evidence tendered in court included internet search histories recorded on a laptop, with Kipf looking up terms including "Remove California child support for deceased."
[5]US accuses man of being 'elite' ransomware pioneer they've hunted for years
[6]'Digital arrest' scams are big in India and may be spreading
[7]Billion-dollar bust as international op shutters Cryptonator wallet
[8]Uncle Sam accuses telco IT pro of decade-long spying campaign for China
Not satisfied with faking his own death, Kipf stole other credentials and used them to access other states' death registries, private business networks, and governmental and corporate networks.
"He then tried to sell access to these networks to potential buyers on the dark net," the DoJ asserted.
Kip admitted to his acts. Once released – which will be in at least five years and eight months – he'll face a bill for over $195,000 to cover both his overdue child support payments and the cost of damage he inflicted on the various computers he accessed.
[9]
The New York Times [10]reports Kipf has previously been convicted of possessing financial transaction devices that did not belong to him, and also faces charges for using stolen credit cards. ®
Get our [11]Tech Resources
[1] https://www.justice.gov/usao-edky/pr/pulaski-county-man-sentenced-cyber-intrusion-and-aggravated-identity-theft
[2] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/cybercrime&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=2&c=2ZsW6xLabTtlU84sxn3NQtwAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D2%26raptor%3Dcondor%26pos%3Dtop%26test%3D0
[3] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/cybercrime&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZsW6xLabTtlU84sxn3NQtwAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[4] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/cybercrime&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=3&c=33ZsW6xLabTtlU84sxn3NQtwAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D3%26raptor%3Deagle%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[5] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/13/j_p_morgan_suspect_indicted_charged/
[6] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/13/india_digital_arrest_scams/
[7] https://www.theregister.com/2024/08/06/cryptonator_closure_international_operation/
[8] https://www.theregister.com/2024/07/25/us_it_pro_spying_charge/
[9] https://pubads.g.doubleclick.net/gampad/jump?co=1&iu=/6978/reg_security/cybercrime&sz=300x50%7C300x100%7C300x250%7C300x251%7C300x252%7C300x600%7C300x601&tile=4&c=44ZsW6xLabTtlU84sxn3NQtwAAAI0&t=ct%3Dns%26unitnum%3D4%26raptor%3Dfalcon%26pos%3Dmid%26test%3D0
[10] https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/20/us/20xp-jesse-kipf-hacking-sentenced-kentucky.html
[11] https://whitepapers.theregister.com/
Re: Now ....
And death can and will not shield you from paying your taxes.
Re: Now ....
And death can and will not shield you from paying your taxes.
I imagine strictly speaking your estate. The concept of "you" post mortem would be a fairly tenuous at best. Not even the IRS could manage to have you kicked out of the heavenly choir or kicked down a circle or two of Hades (depending on your ultimate destination) for tax arrears.
This chap's (Kipf) other but related nefarious activities rather mark him as a generally bad hat.
Any amusement with the audacity of his avoiding his family law obligations by counterfeiting his own death evaporates when you realize he was just a run of the mill, dumb cybercriminal wannabe.
Yeahbut
If you hack the school mainframe and give yourself all A’s, are you really still a dummy?
(Maybe the actual smarties seek the $20 million hack instead.)
Re: Yeahbut
Ah, Wargames!
:D
faking his own death by hacking government systems
I thought the standard procedure for this was to leave all your clothes on the beach, after driving there in a Sunshine Desserts van - he wouldn't have got where he is today if he'd known that.
Re: faking his own death by hacking government systems
Hello CJ
Re: faking his own death by hacking government systems
Great!
Re: faking his own death by hacking government systems
Super !
Is it hacking?
... If he simply used someone else's credentials?
Re: Is it hacking?
Errr.. yes
The majority of hacking is using stolen credentials to gain access to systems or privileges you do not have rights too
Re: Is it hacking?
" If he simply used someone else's credentials?"
I would argue yes in the sense that hacking often equates to trying to obtain "root" level access in order to gain complete control.
Ok he didn't have or get root level but he did manage to access the system, albeit illegally.
Is there truly a difference between using a buffer overrun or using stolen credentials, when the goal is to gain entry..
Re: Is it hacking?
Depends on your definition. Did he try to hack the system for his benefit making it say or do something it was not supposed to do? He clearly wasn't dead so he hacked the system to show he was dead. The system was not designed to make alive people dead unless actually dead.
Re: Is it hacking?
The system was not designed to make alive people dead unless actually dead.
the front's not supposed to fall off!
Now ....
.... only taxes are certain!
---------> Mine's the one with a variety of certificates in the pocket!