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Hacker Steals $500K From NYC Socialite

Cyber-thief got into her email, impersonated her

By Dustin Lushing,  Newser Staff

Posted Dec 7, 2011 4:09 PM CST

(Newser) – A billionaire Manhattan socialite got swindled out of about $550,000 last week after a hacker broke into her email account, reports the New York Post. The online bandit got access to personal information about Candia Fisher, a member of the Fisher Brothers real estate clan, and used it to impersonate her and have cash wired to banks in Australia. Fisher, 64, was especially vulnerable because she does almost all of her business via email, notes the Post.

The digital heist was finally halted after a financial secretary at the company questioned a clueless Candia about the transfers. Authorities say it's uncertain whether the money will be recovered. This is not the first time a member of the prosperous family has been targeted for thievery. In the 1960s, armed robbers did it the old-fashioned way, breaking into the Manhattan apartment of Candia's mother and grabbing millions in jewels.

An email hacker seems to have struck gold in Manhattan.
An email hacker seems to have struck gold in Manhattan.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 27 comments
persimmone
Dec 8, 2011 7:29 PM CST
Brilliant!  Otherwise it would have been used for non-necessites like one more Hermes or another bauble or some designer gown.  Just hope Mr Modern-Day-Robin-Hood will also share his bounty - perhaps buy a meal for some homeless, or drop a few thousands (thats a mere drop in the pail,ok!) to some animal welfare group.
JohnQT
Dec 8, 2011 11:38 AM CST
the 64% who thinks this is haliarious better say nothing when/if it happens to them.
Dave99
Dec 7, 2011 5:14 PM CST
The Chinese have a philosophy that stresses the idea of staying in balance. In that philosophy they believe it's possible to have too much money. It's funny to watch the reactions produced by those that have different attitudes about money. Money addicts are some of the most dangerous addicts in the world ( look at what the banksters did ). I'd take a drug addict over a money addict any day.

 
crime • Manhattan • identity theft • billionaire • hackers • stealing • socialite • email hacking • candia fisher

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