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Lifestyle

Hacking Hotspot in Romania

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May 7, 2013

Cyber crime costs consumers upwards of 290 million euros a year. One town in Romania is known as an international hackers' hub. Americans account for 80 percent of the victims - and now US authorities have the cyber criminals' stronghold in their sights. Râmnicu Vâlcea is about 200 kilometers north-west of Budapest. The town in the Carpathian Mountains has become known as "Hackerville." Starting in the mid-1990s, thousands of cyber criminals settled here. Their specialty: online and credit-card fraud. The temptation of easy money attracts many young Romanians who have computer skills to move to the town.

Râmnicu Vâlcea is about 200 kilometers north-west of Budapest. The town in the Carpathian Mountains has become known as "Hackerville." Starting in the mid-1990s, thousands of cyber criminals settled here. Their specialty: online and credit-card fraud. The temptation of easy money attracts many young Romanians who have computer skills to move to the town.

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