Orlando TV station news reports have been filled in recent months with stories of computer hacking. From the famous breaching of Sony's Hollywood files (allegedly by North Korean agents) to the hacks of JP Morgan, the U.S. weather service, celebrity iCloud accounts, Target and eBay, the news is packed with hacking tales.
A recent hack reportedly involved millions of Anthem insurance accounts, exposing customer Social Security numbers, healthcare records and other data that could be valuable on the black market. According to one news report, stolen Social Security numbers go for as little as $3 to $5. Law enforcement officials say that when paired with a name, those numbers can enable someone to file a fraudulent tax return and then pocket the tax refund.
While tax fraud is not new, it has evolved to a sophisticated state that includes new technologies and methods. One former Florida prosecutor characterized the white-collar crime as "so much easier and less risky than drugs.
"All you need is a computer and data," he told a TV station.
For those facing charges involving computer crimes, embezzlement, fraud, identity theft and similar offenses, an effective defense can be more complicated today than it was in the past.
An effective defense can require computer forensics experts to examine your hardware. It can also require an experienced criminal defense attorney from the Law Offices of Horwitz & Citro, P.A. who understands the intricacies of not only computer forensics, but also prosecutor strategies used in these cases.
Our law firm's deep experience on both sides of the aisle -- defense and prosecution -- enables us to help protect our clients' rights and freedoms.
