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Comment by cryptnoob | Hacker News Reader

When I sneak my own soda pop into the movie theater, I have violated their rules. I am running the risk of being kicked out of the theater with no refund and probably be very embarrassed in the process. I am not, however, breaking any laws.

What these people did seems analogous. I don't understand how the FBI is involved.

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Due to claiming to be about a thousand people that didn't exist, the FBI is likely investigating them under a major suspicion of being related to organized crime. Incidentally, it's very, very rare that using an unlawfully acquired name isn't related to a serious crime.

If I act like any murderer on the run, the FBI are going to investigate me like any murderer on the run. Similarly if you act like any organized crime money laundering syndicate, you'll be investigated like one!

> Incidentally, it's very, very rare that using an unlawfully acquired name isn't related to a serious crime.

I can see how claiming to be someone else who actually exists might be "often criminal", but that's not the only type of name deception.

For example, I know lots of people who sign the equivalent of Mickey Mouse. What serious crime is that related to?

Or, as the Wikipedians say, citation needed.

You seem to be assuming that they fraudulently used the identities of real people. Is there any evidence of that? How do you know they weren't signing up as "John Doe #14812"?

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