Published at 1:25 PM on June 15, 2009

DJ Gang Steals Credit Cards, Collects Tons of Phony Royalties, Gets Arrested

DJ Gang Steals Credit Cards, Collects Tons of Phony Royalties, Gets Arrested

The guys of Ocean's Eleven couldn't have devised a more clever scheme. But just like Mr. Ocean, a gang of nine DJs from the London area learned that even the best-laid plans can go awry. The members used 1,500 stolen credit cards to download their own tracks, thus netting £200,000 in royalties.

Police believe the group uploaded music to, and then downloaded the same music from, iTunes and Amazon.com, reports The Daily Mail. The group reportedly uploaded a total of 19 songs to the websites.

The police began investigating the situation with the FBI in February, but the six men and three women were only arrested recently.

"This investigation, with its national and international dimension, exemplifies why we have set up this national response to e-crime," Detective Chief Inspector Terry Wilson told The Daily Mail.  "We are now making it more risky for criminals who seek to exploit the Internet and commit e-crime across national borders. We are working hard through partnership with industry and law enforcement to combat e-crime and are committed to pursuing those responsible."

Related links:
News: Apple Threatens to Shut Down iTunes Over Royalities Increase

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