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FIU Student Accused Of Hacking $260K From Frequent Flyer Accounts

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MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — Police say a computer programmer studying at FIU hacked into the American Airlines accounts of travelers and stole $260,000 worth of frequent flyer miles.

Milad Avazdavani, 27, was jailed for a year on 19 felony counts including grand theft, according to CBS4 media partner The Miami Herald.

Police say Avazdavani used the frequent flyer miles to take trips around the world and to rent cars.

Avazdavani, an Iranian who was a student at Florida International University, tells the Herald he is a victim of "bargain shopping" on the internet. He says a third party is to blame for his predicament.

Miami-Dade Assistant State Attorney Manny Reboso says these kinds of cases are rare because they take a lot of investigation to prove someone was behind the computer when the crime was committed.

Avazdavani's trial could occur this summer.

(TM and © Copyright 2016 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2016 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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