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Hackers Say They’ve Stolen Romney’s Tax Returns and Are Demanding $1M — But Have They Really?

Sep. 6, 2012 7:00am
Hackers Claim to Have Hacked Romneys Tax Returns From PricewaterhouseCooper

Republican presidential candidate, former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney speaks during a campaign rally. (Photo: Justin Sullivan/Getty Images)

An anonymous group of hackers claim to have broken into PricewaterhouseCoopers’ computers and stolen Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney’s tax return information. The group is ransoming the information for $1 million, but there are many questioning the alleged hack — including PwC, which has said it is currently working with the Secret Service regarding the situation.

It appears that Ken Whitehouse for Nashville CityPaper was among the first to pick up on the alleged breach of these tax documents from the PwC Franklin, Tenn., office, after Romney’s tax history has been called into question in recent months. Whitehouse states the hackers posted messages of their activities and terms on the file-sharing site Pastebin. Here’s some of the hackers threat:

Romney’s 1040 tax returns were taken from the PWC office 8/25/2012 by gaining access to the third floor via a gentleman working on the 3rd floor of the building. Once on the 3rd floor, the team moved down the stairs to the 2nd floor and setup shop in an empty office room. During the night, suite 260 was entered, and all available 1040 tax forms for Romney were copied. A package was sent to the PWC on suite 260 with a flash drive containing a copy of the 1040 files, plus copies were sent to the Democratic office in the county and copies were sent to the GOP office in the county at the beginning of the week also containing flash drives with copies of Romney’s tax returns before 2010. A scanned signature image for Mitt Romney from the 1040 forms were scanned and included with the packages, taken from earlier 1040 tax forms gathered and stored on the flash drives.

The group will release all available files to the public on the 28 of September, 2012.

They will release the files, that is, unless they’re paid $1 million in a transfer.

The hackers also claim to have sent an encrypted message with the sensitive to major media outlets. Passwords to unencrypt, they threaten, will be released to these outlets if their demands are not met. Unless of course the highest bidder actually wants the documents released. Adding to the odd threat, Whitehouse writes the hackers say they’ll really do whatever the highest bidder wants:

So this is an equal opportunity for the documents to remain locked away forever or to be exposed before the September 28 deadline.

In addition, the Tennessean reported today that the Williamson County Republican Party and the local Democratic party alerted police to having received “suspicious looking packages containing a flash drive and a copy of the letter.” Executive Director of the Republican group, Jean Barwick, told the Tennessean she didn’t report the delivery until now as it didn’t seem credible:

“A million dollars seemed kind of low,” Barwick said. “If you’re going to go for a million, why not go for $100 million.”

A spokesperson for the Democratic party said the situation seemed fishy as well, but given that both groups received a package, something could be up.

The Tennessean reports that the Republican party has not attempted to access the flashdrive. It doesn’t report either way if the Democratic party has tried to access its documents.

Hackers Claim to Have Hacked Romneys Tax Returns From PricewaterhouseCooper

Dr. Evil is infamous for his ransom threats of $1 million in the Austin Powers' movies. (Photo: Wikimedia)

Alexander Abad-Santos for the Atlantic Wire though finds much amiss with this alleged hack and subsequent threat that sounds like a “Nigerian e-mail scam” and the Austin Powers’ character Dr. Evil combined:

First off there’s a lack of proof. We’re not really up to speed on the latest trends in blackmail, but most movies we’ve seen involving ransom notes include some sort of proof—of which this one offers none. And even though Whitehouse explains these 1040 purported hackers posted to Pastebin (“This same website has been used by hackers who have claimed to have infiltrated computers from companies like Apple in the past”), the whole notion of Pastebin is that anyone can anonymously paste anything to it. See? We just did, too. And there doesn’t seem to be an outcry from the Romney camp.

International Business Times too writes “it is most likely a prank with no veracity.”

No one in Romney’s camp has commented about the alleged hack, but PwC released a statement (via Talking Points Memo):

We are aware of the allegations that have been made regarding improper access to our systems. We are working closely with the United States Secret Service, and at this time there is no evidence that our systems have been compromised or that there was any unauthorized access to the data in question.

Marc Ambinder, who is a contributing editor for GQ and The Atlantic, tweeted that the FBI has gotten involved in this extortion attempt as well.

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Comments (58)

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  • Pomona
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 10:46am

    I just love the photos used for this article. Dr. Evil from Austin Powers–International Man of Mystery and the photo of Romney complete with halo. Blaze, you’ve outdone yourselves!!!

    Report this comment

    Pomona  
  • Church State
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 10:42am

    It is no big secret Utah Senator Orin Hatch and other LDS faithful lawmakers seem to have convinced the US Government that only LDS/Mormon return missionaries are capable of reading, writing and speaking a foreign language. Yet when they return these missionaries test at only an intermediate level of fluency – thus federally funded statewide elementary school level mulitple languages immersion programs were established (in what appear to be predominately LDS neighborhood schools. These children are expected to have advanced level foreign language fluency upon graduation for high school). Mormon return missionaries (60,000 serving worldwide) have been recruited by the CIA and FBI for decades. It is quite interesting how most international abductions, assaults, and deaths of Americans abroad go unsolved for months if not years, but when a LDS/Mormon church member is kidnapped (Russia & England), killed (China), or assaulted (worldwide) the crime is solved by either the FBI/CIA in 7-14 days or less. My bets are on Romney’s hijacked tax returns mystery being resolved and the culprits arrested in less than 7 days.

    Report this comment

    Church State  
  • Ghandi was a Republican
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 10:41am

    I will believe absolutely NOTHING in the form of tax returns unless they are also accompanied by “The Romney’s gave away his entire family inheritance”, Charitable contributions in the 10% range not anything that shows less than the Capital gains rate.
    I could not care less what holdings are offshore in the World market. Obama has sent much of the Trillions to our enemies and that what pizzes me off.

    Report this comment

    Ghandi was a Republican  
  • Wango
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 10:17am

    Yes, the taxes are coming out. Get used to it. They will be legal and shameful. You know, like abortion.

    Report this comment

    Wango  
  • noslave
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 10:13am

    like the kinkos produced false birth certificate,perhaps we’ll see fake/counterfit copys of mitts tax returns pop up to further distract from real issues,while were argueing over them real or false??,obumbles could be sneakeing another executive order???

    Report this comment

    noslave  
  • ColoradoMaverick
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 10:05am

    So they admit to hacking into the IRS? Sounds like federal charges are in order.

    Report this comment

    ColoradoMaverick  
  • Sy Kosys
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 9:02am

    I love the deadline given too, 28 Sept the last friday before unleashing DUN DUN DUNNNNNN the Doucheocrats ‘October Surprise’.

    (sniff) I smell Barbara Streisand

    Report this comment

    Sy Kosys  
    • sndrman
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 9:55am

      come on it can’t smell that bad,we all know babs is the smelliest thing on earth…………..where is caroline kennedy this time around?what about the fat one oprah (probally wanted to save the money from adding extra strength to the stage) poor oprah sold her career for obama and what did she get in exchange?barred from the white house,for being over weight…………………….

      Report this comment

      sndrman  
  • Landon410
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:44am

    and we all know the DNC has 100 computer nerds working all day and night to try to access any information on a flash drive….. bet it has nothing but a virus on it, and hte DNC is wasting thousands and thousands of dollars on computers because they just keep crashing…

    Report this comment

    Landon410  
  • Landon410
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:43am

    some punk college kid will end up getting arrested for posting all of this, but Holder will step in and stop everything……

    Report this comment

    Landon410  
  • Goldi
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:40am

    This is the white houses elaborate plan to get them out in the public. They have been sitting in the oval office and since they can’t goad Romney into releaseing them this is the only way they can get them out. Poor dems and the stupid people who believe them. They are all corrupt baby killers.
    THE WHITE HOUSE HAS HAD THEM FOR MONTHS!

    Report this comment

    Goldi  
    • americanfirst
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 9:10am

      Actually – the reality is the Romney’s are not withholding anything. The problem the Dems have is that the Romney’s literally have nothing to hide.
      The simple fact is that it doesn’t matter what they release the Democrats will use whatever they find against them. Debate 101 – take both sides of any argument and win.
      The only game here is to attach as many “negative’ associations as they can to an honest man.
      The Dems are desperate to cling to power and people see right thru it. This is akin to Chris Wallace crying birtherism at everything he can find never mind the (very legitimate) issue never being brought up.
      It is ALL about negative propaganda to conservatives – even when THEY are clearly the perpetrators.
      New word – Obamatize (verb): The ability to defend the indefensible notwithstanding the absence of facts, evidence, common sense, reason or rationale.
      ex. “Chris Matthews obamatizes MSNBC every freakin’ day.”

      Report this comment

      americanfirst  
  • Detroit paperboy
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:33am

    I wonder if they could hack Odumbass s college records that show him to be a foreign exchange student……………….

    Report this comment

    Detroit paperboy  
  • EqualJustice
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:21am

    HAHAHAHA HACKERS? As in Obama’s IRS thugs? I don’t believe this AND I think the “Ransom” make them EXTORTIONISTS. Where’s HOLDER? I bet he’s on it. HAHAHA These people are so very desperate….

    Report this comment

    EqualJustice  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:17am

    It appears Theblaze has deleted this from their front page

    Report this comment

    soybomb315_II  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:00am

    eventually, the truth usually comes out – Romney should have released his tax returns a long time ago and this all would be behind him

    Report this comment

    soybomb315_II  
    • OhioRifleman
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:18am

      @ Soybomb

      From the bent of your comment, you’re assuming there is something there. Tax returns or not, there would be ample evidence from other, more readily accessible sources, should there be any wrongdoing. That said, since 0bama has had people looking into everything about Mitt down to his wank size, they should have found that evidence by now. I’m not hearing much from their camp except the usual Lefty harping, so one can reasonably conclude nothing has been found.

      Since I am IT, I see a huge amount of fraud and scam traffic. This smells like a pretty good fraud shot, given the effort the scammers went to in making it look plausible. Encrypted flash drives are a dime a dozen nowadays, though to those who aren’t IT-savvy it would look like a serious play. I’ll wager these hacktivists spent maybe $40 tops to execute this ruse. Hell, you can build your own encrypted flash drive using Truecrypt and a clean flash drive, which costs maybe half of what an off-the-shelf-encrypted drive would cost.

      Personally, I would check the mailed flash drives with a file system utility, such as R-Studio. If they are used drives, anything deleted off them might still be on the drive to be accessed by someone with the right tools. Chances are, the FBI is already doing that. It’s not likely to turn up anything, but you play all your cards in an incident like this.

      Report this comment

      OhioRifleman  
    • EqualJustice
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:25am

      WHY? He has NO obligation to cave to Obama’s demands. How about WE DEMAND Obama release all HIS records.. NOW? Never happen after how many millions he spent to HIDE THEM. Romney has paid WAY more than his share of taxes and IF he had cheated or lied, you think BO & CO would not be ALL OVER THAT? This is a red herring. Romney would just look WEAK, like McCain did.

      Report this comment

      EqualJustice  
    • soybomb315_II
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:27am

      By “truth”, i meant he actual tax returns – not saying there is anything wrong with them

      you know, the longer he waits the more dangerous it becomes. Eventually, people will start producing fake tax returns, which he will constantly have to defend and explain

      Better to just get them out and done with. The saying in politics is, “if you dont provide the details, your opponent will happily do so”

      Report this comment

      soybomb315_II  
    • sndrman
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 9:51am

      soy do you think the “tax returns” are a diversion,in the likes of war on women, we just keep hearing how wonderful the bowing one is but noone says what a failure he is…….somewhere jimmy(the nut)carter is happy and doing a shuffle knowing that he will not be the worse president,someone new has taken that mantle………..come on just blame bush and be done with it………………………

      Report this comment

      sndrman  
  • right-wing-waco
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:57am

    Why didn’t these hackers go after Obama’s college records and birth certificate?

    Report this comment

    right-wing-waco  
    • DRAGONSEED
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:18am

      Exactly. More Americans want to see those “secret records” than they care about Romney’s tax forms.

      Report this comment

      DRAGONSEED  
    • CatB
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 11:14am

      Yes . those are what AMERICA wants to see!

      Report this comment

      CatB  
  • Individualism
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:42am

    just release it and destroy him with it, so we can get on with the real choices Gary Johnson or Obama.

    Report this comment

    Individualism  
    • loriann12
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:03am

      If there was anything in those records that were illegal, the IRS would already have him in jail. How stupid are you people? The only way it would hurt Romney is because Obama’s base has never seen any tax forms, or if they have only the 1040-EZ form and it would confuse them.

      Report this comment

      loriann12  
    • 13th Imam
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:03am

      DEMOCRAT shill

      Report this comment

      13th Imam  
    • DRAGONSEED
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:13am

      To Individual-Idiot:

      Two words: SHUT UP.

      The choice is between the Big -0- and Mitt Romney. Everyone seems to grasp this HARSH FACT OF LIFE, except for idiots who can’t let go of fantasies of electing RON PAUL or that “OTHER GUY,” because the idiots have delusions of legalizing pot or… God only knows what else they are hallucinating about…

      Report this comment

      DRAGONSEED  
    • THX-1138
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 8:31am

      Now *That’s* funny.

      Oh, wait, you were serious?

      Dude.

      Report this comment

      THX-1138  
  • Temporal
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:40am

    Nearly as credible as Harry Reid’s “phone call.”

    Report this comment

    Temporal  
  • muffythetuffy
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:37am

    Where is the DOJ and FBI? Extortion is a Federal Offense.

    Report this comment

    muffythetuffy  
  • TJexcite
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:36am

    Watergate part 2. To think hackers one thinks they sat in the basement and hacked in on-line. But if they broke in to the office and accessed the computers there that is bigger than just wikileak style hack. And to find Mitt’s and not worry about the hundreds of other high value targets tax returns that they could also ransom is fishy.

    Report this comment

    TJexcite  
  • soybomb315_II
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:35am

    Actually, the group is asking for 1 million BITCOINS, not dollars. I know this because i saw this article on drudge last nite
    http://mashable.com/2012/09/05/hacker-ransom-romney-tax-returns/

    And one bitcoin is currently worth $10.7….So they are really asking for $10.7 Million
    http://preev.com/

    Report this comment

    soybomb315_II  
  • jaylew
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:33am

    Guess what hackers? Nobody really cares…..we all know Mit Romney is wealthy….no secret there…and unlike the methods you appear to be using to get rich……Mister Romney’s investments are nobody’s business but his. I can tell you with absolute certainty that if the Secret Service is assigned to this “alleged break in”……and it indeed actually did occur in any fashion including your ransom letter…..you will be found out….and you will find out when you are found out……that although I don’t think every Federal employee or program is ultra efficient or without flaw…..including perhaps the libidos of a few Secret Service Agents….the fact is….that the Secret Service catches people that do things like this article alleges…..and don’t expect a knock on the door. You may have started something…..that you may never be able to finish…..at least not without being behind bars.

    Report this comment

    jaylew  
  • MAULEMALL
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:23am

    The secret service is involved now???

    Did the Hackers want hookers with the million??

    Report this comment

    MAULEMALL  
    • muffythetuffy
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:36am

      Obama ordered the IRS to send Romney tax returns to the White House it illegal but so what. Two weeks before the election all of Romney’s tax returns will be released so everyone can see that Romney spends more money on his wife’s horses that he gives to the poor. The Democrats have ready audited Romney’s returns and of course will blame the illegal release on “hackers.”

      No Law is too big not to be ignored.

      Report this comment

      muffythetuffy  
  • rafraf55
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:11am

    Since the “hacker” is so smart, and reading these, why don’t you get your techno hands on Obama’s ( or Barry s) school records so everyone can see student status on the applications. Put everything out on the web, on both people, and see which the voters think is worse, sandbagging your tax return or committing treason by not being a legal citizen. Just a thought.

    Report this comment

    rafraf55  
  • toiletclogga
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:11am

    Call their bluff Mitt!

    Report this comment

    toiletclogga  
    • HumbleMan
      Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:40am

      If I’m not mistaken, this is a go to jail for a very long time affair, whether they did it or not. I hope they are caught.

      Report this comment

      HumbleMan  
  • The Jewish Avenger
    Posted on September 6, 2012 at 7:09am

    Oh do I REALLY hope some uber liberal buys it and its a faux pas

    Report this comment

    The Jewish Avenger  
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