Romanian Town Nicknamed Hackerville

In central Romania, nestled at the foot of the Carpathian mountains, is the city of Râmnicu Vâlcea. Its Facebook page claims a population of more than 92,500 residents, and according to French newspaper Le Monde, it boasts a dubious distinction related to online crime. Nicknamed “Hackerville,” Râmnicu Vâlcea is being called the international capital of Internet theft.

Mark Gitenstein, the American ambassador in Bucharest, Romania, said that last year, $1 billion was stolen in the U.S. by Romanian hackers. While approximately 80 percent of those victimized by Romanian hacking networks are Americans, online thievery has also affected large numbers of French, British, German and Italian citizens.