FBI Does Dallas... Data Center Investigation

The FBI recently raided two Texas data centers as part of a fraud investigation which allegedly saw two major wireless networks duped out of millions of minutes.

ComputerWorld reports that a trail of fake companies, P.O. box addresses and fraudulant phone numbers led the FBI investigation to two Texas companies: Premier Voice and Lone Star Power. Several people connected to the two companies are said to have submitted fake credit information as well as “other false representations” to access services from AT&T and Verizon, which they then sold on to their own clients at a rate of 1c per minute.

An affidavit signed by FBI agent Allyn Lynd (via DSLreports.com) explains the extent of the crime:

“On or about January 26, 2009, Verizon officials contacted the FBI and reported they were the victims of a fraud for in excess of $1,000,000. Verizon officials advised they believed AT&T had also been victimized by the same fraud for similar losses. During a teleconference between Verizon/AT&T fraud investigators and myself, investigators explained that they believed a group of individuals working together had defrauded them of over 120,000,000 physical connectivity minutes valued at $6,000,00 in a three to four month period and that these individuals had charged their customers $.01 per minute, for a profit of $1,200,000.”

According to CW, four men have been names suspects in the investigation; Michael Faulkner, Brian Haney, Nathan Shafer and Michael Bowden.