U.S. Army Soldier Arrested for Cybercrimes Involving Major Telecom Providers

Federal authorities have arrested a 20-year-old U.S. Army soldier for conducting extensive cybercrimes targeting major telecommunications providers AT&T and Verizon. Cameron John Wagenius, a communications specialist recently stationed in South Korea, was taken into custody near Fort Hood, Texas, on December 20th.

The soldier, operating under the online alias "Kiberphant0m", was indicted on two criminal counts of unlawful transfer of confidential phone records. According to court documents, Wagenius allegedly accessed and attempted to sell sensitive customer data from telecommunications companies, specifically targeting push-to-talk (PTT) customer data.

Investigations revealed that Wagenius claimed responsibility for breaching at least 15 telecommunications firms, with a notable focus on AT&T and Verizon. In one brazen attempt, he threatened to leak presidential government call logs, including those of then President-elect Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris.

Cybersecurity researchers tracking the case noted that Wagenius maintained connections with other cybercriminals and had previously sold remote access credentials for a major U.S. defense contractor. His activities also included maintaining a large botnet used for DDoS attacks.

The case has been transferred to the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington in Seattle. Security experts view this arrest as a significant demonstration of law enforcement's improving capabilities to track and apprehend digital criminals operating within the United States.

Wagenius' mother expressed shock at her son's alleged criminal activities, stating she was unaware of his involvement in hacking. The soldier, who joined the Army following his older brother's footsteps, now faces serious legal consequences for his cybercriminal actions.

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