Teen pleads guilty to trying to blackmail Optus customers after hack
A Sydney teenager has pleaded guilty to two charges after trying to blackmail people caught up in the Optus data breach.
Dennis Su, 19, texted 93 of the telco's customers, demanding they transfer $2000 to a CBA bank account "or face their personal information being used for financial crimes".
Su downloaded the personal details from a website that shared breached data, telling police he was having a difficult time being unemployed and wanted to make some "quick money".
READ MORE: NSW teen who tried to blackmail Optus customers to plead guilty
Dennis Su, 19, texted 93 Optus customers, demanding they transfer $2000. AAP
He is not suspected of being linked to the original breach, and no one he contacted transferred any money.
One person responded with an emoji, according to the agreed facts of the case.
Su then returned to the data-sharing website and gathered more information about the victim to "prove his credibility".
He responded by saying: "The police have your details, and I have nothing you can gain so good luck."
The initial Optus data breach took place at the end of September and ten million customers had some of their information compromised.
Su was arrested on October 6 in Rockdale, and charged with using a telecommunication network with intent to commit a serious offence and dealing with identification information.
READ MORE: NSW widower angry dead wife's information was stolen in Optus hack
Su pleaded guilty to two counts of using equipment connected to a network to commit a serious offence on Tuesday in Downing Centre Local Court.
His lawyers submitted a letter of apology from the teenager as well as character references from two counsellors he's been seeing since the charges were laid.
The consumer watchdog has been flooded with Optus-related scam complaints following the data breach.
Su is out on bail and is set to face a sentencing hearing on February 7.
- Reported with AAP
READ MORE: Legal firms announce class action over Medibank data breach
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