Vernon man pleads guilty to child exploitation charge
According to evidence and testimony, an investigation by the FBI's Child Exploitation Task Force uncovered that Daryl Todd, 44, was using Snapchat to communicate with underage girls.
Man arrested after alleged domestic dispute in Gales Ferry
Todd was accused of enticing the underage girls to send him sexually explicit images and videos of themselves, sometimes in return for money via Cash App. He also sent sexually explicit images of himself to the minor victims.
Todd was arrested on March 7, and analysis of his cellphone revealed sexually explicit images of underage girls.
Todd plead guilty to receipt of child pornography, an offense that carries a mandatory minimum term of five years in prison and a maximum term of 20 years. He is scheduled to be sentenced on July 1.
Todd was released on a $100,000 bond pending sentencing.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


UPI
an hour ago
- UPI
N.Y. AG Letitia James sues parent company of Zelle for allowing fraud
1 of 2 | New York Attorney General Letitia James filed suit Wednesday against the parent company of Zelle, the banking transfer app. The company is partially owned by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Capital One and Wells Fargo. File Photo (2012) by John Angelillo/UPI | License Photo Aug. 13 (UPI) -- New York Attorney General Letitia James filed suit Wednesday against the parent company of Zelle, a bank transfer app, for "failing to protect its users from massive amounts of fraud," a press release said. An investigation by the Office of the Attorney General revealed that parent company Early Warning Services designed Zelle without critical safety features, allowing scammers to target users and steal more than $1 billion between 2017 and 2023, the release said. "No one should be left to fend for themselves after falling victim to a scam," James said in the statement. "I look forward to getting justice for the New Yorkers who suffered because of Zelle's security failures." EWS knew from the beginning that key features of the Zelle network made it uniquely susceptible to fraud, and yet it failed to adopt basic safeguards to address these glaring flaws or enforce any meaningful anti-fraud rules on its partner banks, the press release alleged. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a similar suit in December 2024, but it was dropped after the President Donald Trump administration took power. James seeks restitution for damages for affected New Yorkers and a court order mandating that Zelle maintain anti-fraud measures. The app is partially owned by Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Capital One and Wells Fargo, and it was launched in 2017 to compete with other payment apps like Venmo or CashApp, which are not owned by banks. James alleges that those banks tasked EWS with hastily launching an electronic payment platform. In their rush to launch, EWS prioritized attracting new users through a simple registration process and quick transfers that left consumers vulnerable to scammers. James' complaint alleges: EWS and its partner banks knew for years that fraud was spreading on Zelle and failed to take meaningful action to stop it. When participating banks got complaints from Zelle users about fraud, EWS allowed banks to report that fraud to EWS long after it happened, which enabled bad actors to scam more consumers. When Zelle launched, EWS did not require banks to report scams. When EWS did get reports of fraud, it failed to promptly remove the fraudsters from the Zelle network or require banks to reimburse consumers for scams. EWS developed basic safeguards to address these issues as early as 2019, but failed to adopt them. EWS failed to meaningfully enforce even the limited anti-fraud rules that it did have in place against banks despite knowing of widespread violations of those rules. In one example James' department explained, a New York user received a call from someone impersonating a Con Edison employee saying that the consumer was delinquent on his energy bills and that his "electricity was going to be shut off that day" unless he paid Con Edison via Zelle. The fraudster identified "Coned Billing" as the name associated with the account. The consumer transferred $1,476.89 to a Zelle account named "Coned Billing," but after realizing the call was a scam, was told by their bank, JPMorgan Chase, that the bank "can't get [him] that money back."


Time Business News
3 hours ago
- Time Business News
cardable website
In the underground world of cybercrime, certain terms have become part of the dark web's vocabulary. One such term is 'cardable website' — a phrase often discussed in the same breath as 'Verified Carders Shop CVV Fullz Bank Logins EMV Software Dumps+Pin Leaked Database ATM Skimmers Cash App PayPal Bank Transfer and much more.' While it may sound technical, a cardable website simply refers to an online store or platform that criminals believe can be exploited for purchases using stolen payment information. Understanding this concept is crucial for anyone who shops online or runs an e-commerce business. A cardable website is not a legitimate service, nor is it a term used in any lawful business. Instead, it is a label given by cybercriminals to sites they believe can be tricked into accepting fraudulent transactions without proper verification. Criminals operating on carding forums or black-market communities often compile lists of such sites, claiming they can be 'carded' successfully with stolen: CVV codes – Security numbers from credit or debit cards. – Security numbers from credit or debit cards. Fullz data – Complete sets of personal and banking details. – Complete sets of personal and banking details. Bank logins – Credentials for direct account access. – Credentials for direct account access. PayPal and Cash App accounts – Digital wallet information for unauthorized transfers. – Digital wallet information for unauthorized transfers. Dumps + PINs – Magnetic stripe data and ATM PIN numbers for cloning cards. Cardable websites are not inherently criminal — many are legitimate businesses — but vulnerabilities in their payment systems can be abused. Here's how the exploitation process works in the criminal world: Finding a Target – Fraudsters share or sell lists of supposed 'cardable' sites on underground forums. Testing Stolen Data – They attempt small purchases using stolen credit card numbers to see if the site's security will flag it. Scaling Up – If successful, larger and more expensive items may be purchased and shipped to drop addresses or intermediaries. Covering Tracks – Transactions are routed through VPNs, proxies, or the Tor network to hide the perpetrator's identity. These actions are illegal and carry severe criminal penalties, but the term 'cardable website' persists as a coded way for criminals to discuss potential targets. For online merchants, unknowingly being labeled a 'cardable website' can be disastrous. It means their platform is seen as vulnerable, which may lead to: Increased chargebacks from fraudulent transactions. from fraudulent transactions. Loss of trust from customers whose data may be compromised. from customers whose data may be compromised. Legal liability if security standards like PCI DSS are not followed. if security standards like PCI DSS are not followed. Targeted attacks from organized fraud groups. Even if you've never heard the term before, your financial information could still be targeted by criminals exploiting cardable websites. Here are key safety measures: Use secure payment methods – Credit cards often have better fraud protection than debit cards. – Credit cards often have better fraud protection than debit cards. Enable transaction alerts – Many banks and payment apps allow instant notifications for purchases. – Many banks and payment apps allow instant notifications for purchases. Avoid storing card details on multiple websites. on multiple websites. Check for HTTPS – Ensure websites use SSL encryption before entering payment information. – Ensure websites use SSL encryption before entering payment information. Monitor accounts regularly – Early detection of suspicious activity can limit losses. E-commerce owners can take steps to protect both themselves and their customers: Implement strong fraud detection systems that flag unusual orders. that flag unusual orders. Use AVS (Address Verification System) and CVV checks for all card transactions. and CVV checks for all card transactions. Adopt 3D Secure authentication for added security. for added security. Regularly update and patch e-commerce software to close vulnerabilities. e-commerce software to close vulnerabilities. Conduct penetration testing to find weaknesses before criminals do. Authorities worldwide, including the FBI, Europol, and Interpol, monitor cybercrime networks for illegal activity involving cardable websites. Many high-profile cases have shown that: Lists of 'cardable websites' often serve as evidence in criminal trials. Undercover agents infiltrate carding forums to track down offenders. Entire networks promoting fraudulent purchases have been dismantled. Phrases like 'Verified Carders Shop CVV Fullz Bank Logins EMV Software Dumps+Pin Leaked Database ATM Skimmers Cash App PayPal Bank Transfer and much more' are used in the criminal underground as marketing hooks. They promise illegal goods and services to potential buyers — but in reality, they're not only illegal, they're also rife with scams where criminals steal from each other. No matter how 'verified' they claim to be, engaging with these marketplaces can lead to arrest, financial loss, and reputational damage. A cardable website is not something you want to be associated with — whether you're a consumer or a business owner. For shoppers, it's a reminder to remain vigilant when entering payment details online. For businesses, it's a warning to invest in strong fraud prevention and cybersecurity measures. By understanding how criminals misuse the concept, we can reduce the opportunities for fraud and keep the digital marketplace safer for everyone. TIME BUSINESS NEWS


CNN
4 hours ago
- CNN
NY attorney general sues Zelle parent company, alleging the payment service enabled widespread fraud
Retail consumer Investing Federal agencies Corporate newsFacebookTweetLink Follow New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday sued Early Warning Services (EWS), which operates Zelle, alleging the electronic money-transfer service fails to protect its users from 'massive amounts of fraud.' The lawsuit alleges that EWS knew that key features of Zelle's service made it susceptible to fraud, but it still failed to implement safety measures and allowed scammers to steal over $1 billion. EWS is owned by a consortium of large US banks, including JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Capital One and Wells Fargo. The lawsuit, filed in New York State Supreme Court, comes after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau dropped a similar case against some of Zelle's backers in March, part of a broader pullback in enforcement under the Trump administration. 'No one should be left to fend for themselves after falling victim to a scam, and I look forward to getting justice for the New Yorkers who suffered because of Zelle's security failures,' James said in a statement. Zelle did not immediately respond to CNN's request for comment. EWS launched Zelle in 2017 as a competitor to popular payment apps like Venmo and Cash App. Zelle said its payment network had grown to 151 million users in 2024. The NY AG's lawsuit claims that in its rush to sign up new customers, Zelle allowed safety precautions to fall by the wayside. The lawsuit claims that scammers were able to sign up for Zelle through a quick registration process that lacked verification steps, allowing them to pose as businesses and government entities, tricking unsuspecting users into sending funds under false pretenses. Zelle's irreversible transfers also meant that many consumers were not able to get their money back after realizing they had been targeted in a scam, the NY AG claims. In one example cited in the lawsuit, a New York user was misled by a scammer into believing his home's electricity would be shut off if he didn't send money to Con Edison through Zelle. The New Yorker sent nearly $1,500 to a fraudulent account called 'Coned Billing.' By the time he realized it was a scam, his bank, JPMorgan Chase, told him they couldn't get his money back, the AG alleged. The lawsuit, which is partially redacted, alleges that EWS and its partner banks knew for years about Zelle's fraud problem but failed to take meaningful steps to fix the problem. The suit also said EWS failed to remove fraudsters from the Zelle network after receiving complaints and that EWS did not require banks to reimburse customers for certain scams. EWS began to adopt basic network safeguards in 2023, years after they were first proposed, which significantly curtailed fraud on the platform, the lawsuit says. In December, the CFPB sued EWS and three of its owner banks, Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase and Wells Fargo, for 'allowing fraud to fester.' Hundreds of thousands of consumers who filed fraud complaints about Zelle were largely denied assistance, according to the CFPB's lawsuit. Some victims of fraud were even told to contact the fraudsters directly to try to recover their money, the suit alleged. However, earlier this year, the CFPB dropped its suit against EWS, along with several other cases against companies that had been accused of hurting consumers. The dropped lawsuits come as the White House has made efforts to sideline the CFPB since President Donald Trump returned to office in January. The NY AG's lawsuit is seeking restitution and damages for New Yorkers affected by fraud on Zelle's platform, along with a court order mandating that Zelle adopts anti-fraud measures. CNN's Matt Egan contributed to reporting.