American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals Season 2 Episode 7 Fraud in Cyberspace

In season 2 episode 7 of the show American Greed: Scams, Scoundrels and Scandals, titled "Fraud in Cyberspace," viewers are taken on a journey through the world of online fraud and scams.

The episode begins by introducing the audience to a man named Albert Gonzalez, who was once known as one of the most notorious cyber criminals in the world. Gonzalez's crimes included hacking into the computer systems of companies such as Target and TJ Maxx, stealing credit card information, and using that information to make fraudulent purchases and steal money.

Through interviews with law enforcement officials and cybersecurity experts, viewers learn about the scale and impact of Gonzalez's crimes. The episode also delves into how Gonzalez was able to carry out his schemes, including using fake companies to help launder money and stay under the radar of law enforcement.

As the episode continues, it shifts to focus on another cyber criminal, a man named Michael Calce. Calce is best known for carrying out a series of high-profile DDoS (distributed denial of service) attacks in the early 2000s, including one against Yahoo! that caused the site to go down for several hours.

Viewers learn about Calce's motivations for carrying out these attacks, which included a desire for attention and a desire to prove himself to other hackers. The episode also explores the aftermath of Calce's crimes, including his trial and eventual sentencing.

Throughout the episode, viewers are shown various examples of how online fraud and scams can have real-world consequences for individuals and businesses. This includes interviews with victims of cyber crimes, such as a couple who lost their life savings in a phishing scam.

The episode concludes with a discussion of the challenges that law enforcement and cybersecurity experts face in combating cyber crime. Viewers are left with a sense of the scale and scope of online fraud and scams, as well as an understanding of how important it is to be vigilant and protect oneself from cyber threats.