Information Security News: Teenager wings it with a fake airline

[InfoSec News <alerts () infosecnews org>]

http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/industry_sectors/transport/article6719191.ece

By Daniel Foggo and Martin Foley 
The Sunday Times
July 19, 2009 

A TEENAGE boy from Yorkshire succeeded in persuading British aviation 
executives that he was a tycoon about to launch his own airline. Using 
the pseudonym Adam Tait, the smooth-talking 17-year-old told airport and 
airline executives that he had a fleet of jets.

Tait, who said he was in his twenties, even flew to Jersey to attend a 
1½-hour long meeting with the director of its airport. Their talks were 
considered promising enough for a further meeting to be arranged, which 
was due to be held next week.

Other air industry bosses found themselves dealing by telephone or 
e-mail with Tait’s fellow executives, David Rich and Anita Dash, who 
proposed to launch a cut-price Channel Islands-based airline servicing 
most of Europe.

What no one realised was that Tait, Rich and Dash were all the same 
person: an aircraft buff with the gift of the gab and an overactive 
imagination.

His exploits are reminiscent of those of Frank Abagnale Jr, who 
convinced the Pan Am airline that he was a pilot while still a teenager.

His exploits are reminiscent of those of Frank Abagnale Jr, who 
convinced the Pan Am airline that he was a pilot while still a teenager.

[...]

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