Computer hacker taps Mass. city's treasury

SANDWICH, Mass., Nov. 26 (UPI) -- A computer hacker was able to breach the security of a Massachusetts town's treasury and steal tens of thousands of dollars, authorities say.

Police said a hacker, possibly with international connections, succeeded in planting a keystroke logger onto the computer of Sandwich, Mass., Treasurer Craig Mayen, and was able to watch while he entered his security password, The Boston Globe reported Wednesday.

That allowed the hacker to access the city's bank accounts and drain off tens of thousand of dollars, with the money being transferred to four accounts -- three in Florida and one in Georgia.

Sandwich Police Chief Michael Miller told the Globe that Mayen discovered the security breach two weeks ago, notifying detectives who were able to determine that the scheme netted close to $50,000.

The newspaper said a Florida man using one of the accounts was questioned, telling police he had been paid to open the account and to wire money from it to St. Petersburg, Russia.