Titan have arrested 16 year old in hacking and blackmail investigation

A 16 year old male, from Liverpool, has been arrested, on 30 June 2016, on suspicion of computer hacking, blackmail and fraud. Detectives from Titan, along with Officers from Merseyside Police, executed the Computer Misuse Act warrant at the house in Croxteth, at around 7.30am. We are told that the teenager was arrested inside the house, where he lives with his family. Detectives from Titan's Cyber Crime Unit are currently investigating allegations that someone hacked into another person's Instagram account, gained control of it and tried to blackmail them in order to get their account back. Cyber Crime Investigators are also looking at allegations that an online shopping account was accessed by another person and a delivery of electronic goods were re-directed to another address, effectively stealing them. Computer equipment and other electronic devices have been seized at the house in Croxteth and will be analysed by specialist Officers from Titan, which is the North West's Regional Organised Crime Unit.

Detective Chief Superintendent Chris Green, the head of Titan, said:- "This investigation shows the importance of people making sure they take the right precautions to protect themselves while using the Internet. People sometimes don't use strong passwords or don't change them as regularly as they should which makes it easier for cyber criminals to gain access to accounts. It's also important to make sure that phones, tablets and computers are all using the most up-to-date operating software and the latest anti virus software. These are simple things that we can all do to make it more difficult for cyber criminals to hack into our social media and banking accounts to commit crime. Our on going enquiry centres on the alleged blackmailing of someone in another part of the country whose Instagram account, with many thousands of followers, was hacked and taken control of by someone else. The victim then received messages from the offender asking for a ransom to be paid in return for access to their Instagram account being given back. Another allegation which is possibly related is the hacking of someone's online shopping account whereby goods were re-directed to another person's address. Cyber Crime is increasingly common with criminals turning to the Internet to commit the same kinds of offences as traditionally would be committed in the real world such as theft, blackmail and fraud. As we now all spend more and more of our daily lives online, we need to take the same precautions and care about our personal details as we would on the street. If we all changed our passwords more regularly, made them more intricate and harder to crack, and updated our phone, tablet and computer security whenever we get prompted to then we would make it far harder for cyber criminals to target us. At Titan we have the capabilities and expertise to investigate this kind of crime in conjunction with other law enforcement agencies and my message to cyber criminals is that you may think you can hide on the Internet and remain anonymous, but the reality is that you can't."

The 16 year old remains in Police Custody at this time. If you have been the victim of online fraud then report it to Action Fraud or:- 0300 123 2040 or to your local Police Force on:- 101.

8 men have been charged over ATM Attacks

8 men have been charged following their arrest 29 June 2016, as part of an investigation by 'Titan', the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit, along with Police Scotland. All 8 men we are told have been kept in custody to appear before Liverpool City Magistrates Court very soon.

We are also told that the charges relate to the period 1 February 2015 to 13 February 2016, during which ATM machines, in England and Scotland, were attacked on 10 different occasions.

The following people have been charged:-

► Andrew Michael White, aged 27, from St Helens, Merseyside.
► Anthony David White, aged 26, from Huyton, Knowsley.
► Carl John Cavanagh, aged 33, from Huyton, Knowsley.
► Anthony Raymond Conroy, aged 29, from Wavertree, Liverpool.
► Michael Francis Galea, aged 41, from Prescot, Knowsley.
► Nanu Miah, aged 27, from Sparbrook, Birmingham.
► Scott Pearson, aged 34, from Leigh, Greater Manchester.
► Gary Andrew Carey, aged 39, from Huyton, Knowsley.

We are told that they have been charged with:- 'Conspiracy To Cause An Explosion' contrary to Section 3 1a of the 'Explosive Substances Act 1883' and 'Conspiracy To Burgle Commercial Premises' contrary to Section 1a of the 'Criminal Law Act 1977.'