Investigation Underway After Hackers Attack Pine Forge Academy, Demand A Million Dollars

By Justin Finch

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Set on a hill and surrounded by trees, picturesque Pine Forge Academy has become a target for an ugly cyber crime that police are now investigating.

"He's got to be a low-life. Got to be criminals," said parent Aston Wait. "Given that we are a private institution and our goal is to raise nice, upstanding young people."

In a statement on its website, the boarding school said someone sent them an email Tuesday. The senders claimed to be hired hackers with orders to take down the school's computer network. Principal Nicole Falconer received the email, read it, and alerted parents and police.

"We had the conference call last night for parents," said Terence Brown, who was on campus to help his child pack up for the holidays. "[They] kind of explained a little more, and I'm satisfied with the results so far."

The hackers said they'd cancel the hack for a million dollars, and that alumni paid them close to that to do the job. Pennsylvania State Police are on the case.

"The Pennsylvania State Police have a unit dedicated to cyber crime, and more and more police agencies are dedicating resources to cyber crime because they understand that is where the new forefront in crime is happening," said Attorney Ted Schaer of Zarwin Baum DeVito Schaer Toddy.

Schaer told Eyewitness News that cyber crimes are on the rise, and that his firm handling more of those cases than ever. And hack or hoax, he said Pine Forge did everything right.

"Don't sit and wonder what you're going to do, take some action."

State Police have begun their investigation. Once the source of the threat is found, officials said, that person or persons stand to face a series of serious charges.

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