The e-mails were sent under the guise of “Steve Case” of the “AOL Billing Team”. The e-mails asked recipients to visit a web site and input personal information, including credit card numbers.
AOL has confirmed that the messages were not sent by Steve Case, the company’s president and chief executive, and that the company does not ask for members’ passwords or credit card numbers.
The teenagers used the credit card information that they collected to fraudulently purchase various items, including computer software and equipment. They will probably be prosecuted in juvenile court for violation of state computer crime legislation and illegal use of credit cards.