In the early 1990s, Citibank had developed a system called "Cash Management Account" (CMA) that allowed customers to transfer money between accounts using a computer. The system was designed to be secure, but in 1994, a group of hackers led by Vladimir Levin managed to breach Citibank's security measures and gain access to the CMA system.
Levin and his accomplices were able to exploit a vulnerability in the system that allowed them to transfer money from various accounts to bank accounts around the world. They used a combination of social engineering tactics and hacking techniques to obtain the login credentials of Citibank's senior staff and gain access to the CMA system.
Over a period of several months, Levin and his team transferred a total of $10 million from Citibank accounts to accounts in Finland, Israel, Germany, the Netherlands, and the United States. The scheme was so sophisticated that Citibank did not realize the money was missing until customers started complaining about missing funds.
Citibank launched an internal investigation and eventually uncovered the source of the theft. They contacted law enforcement agencies around the world, and a global manhunt for Levin and his accomplices began. Levin was eventually arrested in London in 1995, and the other members of the group were also apprehended in various locations around the world.
Levin was extradited to the United States to stand trial, where he pleaded guilty to various charges related to the hacking and money laundering. He was sentenced to three years in prison and ordered to pay restitution to Citibank. His accomplices also received prison sentences ranging from 2 to 8 years.
The case was a wake-up call for the financial industry, which realized that their computer systems were vulnerable to hacking and cybercrime. It led to increased investment in cybersecurity measures and new regulations to protect against cybercrime. The case also made Levin a notorious figure in the world of cybersecurity and cybercrime.
Some people says that Levin has not a hacker, and that only followed the instructions that others teached him.
What do you think?
