http://www.thewgalchannel.com/news/3974260...00741&qs=1;bp=t
QUOTE
The state attorney general has filed a lawsuit to stop a scam to sell bogus academic degrees online.
Brian Roche's Report
Attorney General Jerry Pappert said the scheme was conducted by hijacking the Web sites of more than 60 businesses throughout the state.
Penn State University and the Senate of Pennsylvania are listed among the 60 businesses which had their Web sites hijacked, according to the attorney general.
Monday morning, the state filed a lawsuit against Alton Poe, of Saint Cloud, Fla. and Craig Poe, of Frisco, Texas.
Alton Poe is allegedly the dean of admissions at Trinity Southern University in Plano, Texas and Craig Poe is allegedly the president of Innovative Cellular and Wireless in Corpus Christi, Texas.
It's alleged that the men and the businesses conspired to hijack the Web sites of 60 businesses throughout the state, including more than a dozen in the Susquehanna Valley.
Several Internet service providers based in York and Harrisburg were affected when their Web sites were used to transmit more than 18,000 spam e-mail messages.
The Web site link included in the e-mails was promoting the sale of online academic degrees from Trinity Southern University.
For a fee ranging from $300 to $500, consumers could buy a bachelor's, master's or doctorate in several different fields.
Undercover agents from the Attorney General's Office applied for a degree online using the name Colby Nolan. They were then told that Colby Nolan had the credentials to receive an executive MBA. As it turned out, Colby Nolan was a cat.
The lawsuit filed Monday seeks to bar the defendants from doing business in Pennsylvania and pay restitution to any consumers or businesses affected.
Brian Roche's Report
Attorney General Jerry Pappert said the scheme was conducted by hijacking the Web sites of more than 60 businesses throughout the state.
Penn State University and the Senate of Pennsylvania are listed among the 60 businesses which had their Web sites hijacked, according to the attorney general.
Monday morning, the state filed a lawsuit against Alton Poe, of Saint Cloud, Fla. and Craig Poe, of Frisco, Texas.
Alton Poe is allegedly the dean of admissions at Trinity Southern University in Plano, Texas and Craig Poe is allegedly the president of Innovative Cellular and Wireless in Corpus Christi, Texas.
It's alleged that the men and the businesses conspired to hijack the Web sites of 60 businesses throughout the state, including more than a dozen in the Susquehanna Valley.
Several Internet service providers based in York and Harrisburg were affected when their Web sites were used to transmit more than 18,000 spam e-mail messages.
The Web site link included in the e-mails was promoting the sale of online academic degrees from Trinity Southern University.
For a fee ranging from $300 to $500, consumers could buy a bachelor's, master's or doctorate in several different fields.
Undercover agents from the Attorney General's Office applied for a degree online using the name Colby Nolan. They were then told that Colby Nolan had the credentials to receive an executive MBA. As it turned out, Colby Nolan was a cat.
The lawsuit filed Monday seeks to bar the defendants from doing business in Pennsylvania and pay restitution to any consumers or businesses affected.