Cyber-Thieves Madoff With Millions in Carbon Credits

onFeb 3, 2010 @ 13:07 PST

Sneaky cyber-thieves have made millions by fraudulently obtaining European greenhouse gas emissions allowances and reselling them.

The scam has hampered trading of the credits, which are seen as an important tool in curbing climate change, in several European countries. According to Financial Times Deutschland, hackers sent e-mails to several companies in Europe, Japan and New Zealand which appeared to originate from the Potsdam-based German Emissions Trading Authority , part of the EU’s Emission Trading System.

The cyber-thieves then exploited the user data that was entered into their spoof Web site to transfer emissions allowances to other accounts, mainly in Denmark and Britain, from which they were quickly resold.

By Ross Gelbspan

uk/UAE Influence on Reform Should be Investigated – Report

ByAdam Barnett

onSep 23, 2026 @ 02:12 PDT

The Gulf petrostate is forging alliances with radical right-wing parties across the world.

Analysis

Q&A: Amy Westervelt on the Corporate Poisoning of the Information Aquifer — and How to Undo the Harm

ByMatthew Green

onSep 21, 2026 @ 12:34 PDT

The acclaimed climate accountability journalist says bold steps are needed to reverse the insidious impact of decades of industry propaganda on the public square.

Series: Holding the Advertising and Public Relations Industry Accountable for Greenwash and Climate Misinformation

Series: Advertising & PR Industry

Suncor Helped Lead Climate Denial Group Spreading ‘Uncertainties’

ByGeoff Dembicki

onSep 21, 2026 @ 07:18 PDT

With a U.S. Supreme Court decision looming on whether the company can be held liable for climate deception, internal documents show a campaign to question science.