A hacker in Germany has increased revenues on his own premium rate telephone service by E400,000, by diverting calls from other companies to his service.

By manipulating the telephone systems and switchboards of companies, the north German programmed the phones so they would call his own premium rate number. A company in Nuernberg, Bavaria has reportedly incurred a E4,000 bill after having their switchboard tampered with by the hacker.

In the last three years, the hacker, who is now known to the police, has made nearly half a million euros with this relatively simple trick.

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