LAPD and FBI Investigate Celebrity 'Doxxing' Case
The Los Angeles Police Department and FBI both confirmed Monday that they are investigating a website that posted the personal and financial information of several major celebrities.
Michelle Obama, Kim Kardashian, Hillary Clinton, Beyonce and LAPD Chief Charlie Beck are just a few of the 17 people who were targeted in this cyber crime.
"We'll take steps to find out who did this, and if they're within the boundaries of the United States, we'll prosecute them," Beck said.
Authorities are considering the case an instance of 'doxxing', a cyber crime in which pranksters reveal information about public figures.
Doxxing is not illegal if the information is obtained legally.
The website remained active on Tuesday and is continuing to reveal the information of more celebrities.
Beck believes he was targeted, along with many other well-known public figures, because of his recent involvement with the Christopher Dorner case.
After Dorner was fired from the LAPD, he shot and killed two officers and two others before being killed in a standoff. His violent streak began after he published an online manifesto which praised a group of anonymous hackers.
The website includes Social Security numbers and credit reports of the celebrities.
Authorities suspect that the website originated in Russia.
TMZ was the first to report the hacking case. Neither TMZ nor the LAPD have said the name of the site .
Additionally, LAPD Officer Cleon Joseph chose not to provide more details about the investigation and the website.
