[US] Ex-cop planted payroll keylogger and padded his paycheques

In the US, a former longtime police officer in Shelton, New Haven, has been accused of tapping into his department's payroll system and padding his paycheque, New Haven Register reports.

According to state police, John Giordano (62) planted a covert "keylogger" inside the police station to learn the login credentials for the department's payroll administrators and fraudulently clock himself in for overtime and additional working hours. 

The warrant for Mt Giordano’s arrest reportedly stated that the scheme cost the city more than $5,800, from November 8, 2024, to January 1, 2025. However, it is suspected that the amount may be larger. Police Department surveillance video is only saved for 60 days.

The investigation began on January 7, 2025, following a payroll audit which flagged suspicious time entries for Mr Giordano, who was the department's court liaison, evidence officer, road job coordinator and records supervisor. He was also the former union president. 

Mr Giordano was a member of the Police Department for 38 years. 

Rather than using the department's mandatory time clock system, Mr Giordano is accused of entering his hours manually using the usernames and passwords of two department payroll clerks. Police reportedly noted that the entries were made when the clerks were not in the police station. 

After searching Mr Giordano's office, police found a “KeyGrabber” USB keylogger instruction guide in his desk, with handwritten notes containing the clerks’ payroll usernames and passwords.

Source: New Haven Register

In the US, a former longtime police officer in Shelton, New Haven, has been accused of tapping into his department's payroll system and padding his paycheque, New Haven Register reports.

According to state police, John Giordano (62) planted a covert "keylogger" inside the police station to learn the login credentials for the department's payroll administrators and fraudulently clock himself in for overtime and additional working hours. 

The warrant for Mt Giordano’s arrest reportedly stated that the scheme cost the city more than $5,800, from November 8, 2024, to January 1, 2025. However, it is suspected that the amount may be larger. Police Department surveillance video is only saved for 60 days.

The investigation began on January 7, 2025, following a payroll audit which flagged suspicious time entries for Mr Giordano, who was the department's court liaison, evidence officer, road job coordinator and records supervisor. He was also the former union president. 

Mr Giordano was a member of the Police Department for 38 years. 

Rather than using the department's mandatory time clock system, Mr Giordano is accused of entering his hours manually using the usernames and passwords of two department payroll clerks. Police reportedly noted that the entries were made when the clerks were not in the police station. 

After searching Mr Giordano's office, police found a “KeyGrabber” USB keylogger instruction guide in his desk, with handwritten notes containing the clerks’ payroll usernames and passwords.

Source: New Haven Register