![Officially Official: 2011 Audi A1 finally arrives [w/video]](http://www.blogcdn.com/www.autoblog.com/media/2010/02/01-2011-audi-a1-630op_143x85.jpg)
Auto Espionage: Koenigsegg dealer caught spying on competing Ferrari dealer
It's a story that's befitting of a James Bond plotline. Possibly disgruntled after being let go by Ferrari-Maserati of Fort Lauderdale-Long Island, former employees Giacomo Ciaccia, Leka Vuksanaj, and Michael Lussos started up a firm of their own called Universal Autosports, LLC. Still dealing with high end exotics at their new Koenigsegg showroom, the intrigue started for the trio when they used their prior knowledge of email accounts for Ferrari-Maserati's operation to start siphoning off the firm's emails and injecting themselves into potential deals, trying to swipe customers from their former employer.
Eventually, someone at Ferrari-Maserati noticed that emails were being forwarded to an unauthorized account, giving Universal Autosports access to information about customers, salaries, and cars at Ferrari-Maserati. Naturally, charges have been leveled, and the three alleged conspirators are out on bond while this unusual corporate espionage case works its way through the legal system. Thanks for the tip, Maciej.
[Source: Bloomberg, Photo: Universal Autosports]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
zamafir 7:08PM (4/23/2009)
after the oc lambo bit it surprises me not that damn near all exotic dealer owners are class a tools.
Reply
tankd0g 7:19PM (4/23/2009)
Arrested for an email forwarding filter. Laughable. Good luck proving who did it.
Reply
DucatiGuy 11:04PM (4/23/2009)
One of the guys arrested was their IT guy, the guy who originally set the email & servers up at Ferrari. He had full access to the system both during and after he was let go. The problem here, he decided to hack back into the system after he was no longer affiliated with Ferrari, and to make matters worse (for him) he fwd their emails to his own server at his new place of employment/partnership. It wont take a rocket scientist to pin this case... Not very smart if u ask me...
tankd0g 11:07PM (4/23/2009)
There's no way to prove it. It could just as easily be a frameup by the Ferrari dealership. Wouldn't be the first time Ferrari framed someone...
DucatiGuy 12:20AM (4/24/2009)
All that will be required to prove any wrong doing is a relatively simple forensic analysis of Ferrari's interval server(s). Any remote IP access would have been logged, and therefore traceable. Could Ferrari have orchestrated such a scheme, sure it's possible, but if you take into consideration the information shared (hacked) the damage they would have done (or did) was more to themselves than anyone else. The consequences both legally and financially outweigh any benefits.
The lesson learned here is not what happen, but what Ferrari should have done after letting go their IT guy... CHANGE ALL THE PASSWORDS!
matt 7:42PM (4/23/2009)
Live down the street from the place... Ha real funny, guess their gonna be outta business real soon.
Reply
BumbleBeeJimBotG 7:50PM (4/23/2009)
I pass by this place and stare all the time. They have all sorts of exotics, really, I think I stare most at the Koenigseggs most, talk about a uniquely sexy beast.
In any event, hope if the place is shut down someone else goes in that spot or I'll miss it :(
Reply
Protzenegger 9:28PM (4/23/2009)
Still more proof that you can't mess with Ferrari ;)
Reply
Acefighter 5:08AM (4/24/2009)
Wow, that's a pretty funny & clever idea. You know, other than it being illegal and unethical and all. But I'm still laughing about it. Way to stick it to your old employer. :-)
Reply
EEL 4:50AM (4/24/2009)
...Huh? Well, I guess I learned something new today. Who would have thought that the reach of the "F.errari I.nternational A.ssistance" was so long and broad?
Reply
aj121489 4:51PM (4/24/2009)
Ferrari/Maserati of Fort Lauderdale is around the corner from my house :) definitely one of the things I miss about home :(
Reply