'Lizard Squad's', Vinnie Omari, Arrested

A Self-Professed Member of the 'Lizard Squad', was Arrested this Week by the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit in England, according to Documents Obtained by 2 Publications and a Thames Valley Police Press Release. The 'Lizard Squad' is a Group of Self-Described Hackers Who since August, Have Made a Nuisance of and Name for itself by Taking Down a Variety of Gaming Networks, including Blizzard's, the PLAYSTATION Network and XBox LIVE. On December 1, the Group Threatened to Take Down Both the PSN and XBL over the Holidays. They Later Claimed Responsibility for Both Network Outages, which Stretched through Christmas. Independent Investigative Journalist, Brian Krebs, Who Covers Internet Security News on his Website, Krebs on Security, Posted a Copy of a Police Bail Document from the Kingston Police Station for 22-Year-Old, Vinnie Omari. In a Post Today, he Writes that Omari, Who Krebs Identified as a Member of the Group, was Arrested by Police. Omari Told The Daily Dot that, Police Raided his Home Monday and Arrested him. He also Shared a Search Warrant with the Publication, Showing Police were Looking for any Evidence Revealing "email addresses, usernames, passwords, documents containing names associated with Paypal fraud".


They were also Looking for Evidence, according to the Warrant, for Anything Related to the "hacking of the PLAYSTATION Network and XBox LIVE Systems over the Christmas period". Omari Said Police Took his XBox One, Phones, Laptops, Computer USBs, "etc". Earlier Today, the Thames Valley Police Issued a Press Release for the Arrest, Saying that, the 22-Year-Old Man (Who they Didn't Identify), was Arrested the the South East Regional Organised Crime Unit on Suspicion of Fraud by False Representation and Computer Misuse Act offences. "The arrest yesterday (30/12) is in connection with an ongoing investigation in to cyber fraud offences which took place between 2013 and August 2014 during which victims reported funds being stolen from their PayPal accounts", according to the Release, which Doesn't Mention the PlayStation and XBox Investigation. Both the Press Release and the Document Posted by Kreb, Show that, the Man was Released on Bail until March. According to the Bail Notice, Omari's 1st Hearing will be March 10 at 11 a.m. in Surrey. The Daily Dot Reported Sunday, Citing Multiple ources with Knowledge of the Investigation that, the FBI was Actively Investigating Another Member of 'Lizard Squad'. The Teen Lives in Finland, according to the Report. The FBI Later Confirmed the Report. In a Short Email Interview with Polygon Last Week, a Member of the Group Said, they were Motivated to Attack the Networks because "chaos is entertainment".




Info Sources:

http://krebsonsecurity.com/2014/12/lizard-kids-a-long-trail-of-fail/#more-29368

http://www.dailydot.com/crime/lizard-squad-vinnie-omari-arrested/?tw=dd

http://www.thamesvalley.police.uk/newsevents/newsevents-pressreleases/newsevents-pressreleases-item.htm?id=298271

http://www.dailydot.com/crime/fbi-lizard-squad-ryan-sony-psn-playstation-network-microsoft-xbox-live

http://venturebeat.com/2014/12/30/fbi-confirms-lizard-squad-under-investigation-for-psn-xbox-live-attacks