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Russian student dubbed 'sexiest hacker'

Money mule
Last Updated 14 October 2010, 15:57 IST

Kristina Svechinskaya, 21, who was part of a gang aiming to steal $220 millions, appeared in court wearing leather boots and skin-tight jeans, the Daily Mail reported.
She is set to make another appearance in court after being charged with conspiracy to commit bank fraud and false use of passports, and if convicted, she could be jailed for up to 40 years.

In total, 37 people have been accused in New York over an East European-based plan to use an Internet virus to siphon money from the online accounts of small businesses and individuals.

Svechinskaya was one of four students at New York University said to have acted as “money mules” by opening hundreds of accounts. Prosecutors claim she opened at least five bank accounts, which received $35,000 dollars of the stolen money.

The Eastern European gang made £2 million a month from online accounts by stealing victims’ log-in details using ‘Trojan horse’ software which can be bought for just £300 over the Internet.

According to the FBI, the ring managed to rake in around $70 million of the huge amount it targeted.

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(Published 14 October 2010, 15:57 IST)

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