Tag: wire fraud
23 articles
US Disrupts North Korean IT Worker Fraud Scheme, Charges 14
The US Department of Justice has cracked down on a massive fraud scheme involving North Korean IT workers posing as remote employees, charging 14 people and seizing nearly 200 computers. This multi-year scam duped over 70 American companies, generating $3 million in revenue.
Ransomware CEO Indicted for Pocketing Millions in Client Fees
Meet Zohar Pinhasi, the alleged ransomware scammer who pocketed millions by preying on vulnerable businesses, charging them hefty fees for a promised solution that didn't exist. His company, MonsterCloud, is accused of swindling hundreds of clients out of over $19 million, while only paying $8 million in actual ransom payments.
DOJ Charges MonsterCloud Owner with Defrauding Ransomware Victims
Meet Zohar Pinhasi, the mastermind behind MonsterCloud, who's accused of pulling off a despicable scam that left ransomware victims paying twice - once to the hackers, and again to him for fake decryption services. By posing as a hero with secret tools, he allegedly re-victimized his clients and lined his pockets with a hefty profit.
Feds Charge Ransomware 'Fixer' with Defrauding Clients
Meet Zohar Pinhasi, a so-called ransomware "fixer" who's accused of running a brazen scheme that raked in over $19 million from desperate clients, with a simple twist: he paid just $8 million in ransoms, pocketing the rest.
Ransomware Recovery CEO Charged in Alleged Secret Ransom Payments Scheme
A CEO's shocking scheme to profit from ransomware recovery has landed him in hot water, accused of secretly paying off ransomers while pretending to decrypt the malware for his clients, leaving them victimized twice over. The alleged scam, which ran from 2018 to 2023, could now cost him up to 20 years in prison.
US Air Force Veterans Sentenced for Orchestrating BEC Scams
Two US Air Force veterans orchestrated a brazen multi-year scheme that scammed over $1.68 million from a victim in Iowa City, using a complex web of domestic and international co-conspirators to divert funds into their control.
US Charges Vietnamese Man in $16 Million Crypto Scam
A Vietnamese man has been charged in the US for masterminding a crypto scam that raked in a staggering $16 million, with authorities seizing over $53 million in cryptocurrency assets from his wallets. He was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport after entering the US from Mexico and was set to flee to Taiwan.
Ex-soldier sentenced for telecom hacking spree
A US judge slammed an ex-soldier for his brazen telecom hacking spree, saying his greedy and fame-driven actions showed a shocking disregard for national security. Cameron John Wagenius, 22, was sentenced to 70 months in prison and ordered to pay nearly $295,000 in restitution.
US Soldier Sentenced for Hacking, Extorting Tech Firms
Meet Cameron John Wagenius, a 21-year-old former US Army soldier who hacked into tech giants like AT&T and Verizon, and was sentenced to 70 months in prison for his crimes, including extorting victim organizations for stolen data. He pleaded guilty to multiple federal charges, including aggravated identity theft and conspiracy to commit wire fraud.
Scattered Spider hacker pleads guilty to cybercrime spree
A 24-year-old Texas resident, Ahmed Hossam Eldin Elbadawy, has pleaded guilty to federal charges related to a cybercrime spree with the notorious Scattered Spider hacking group. The guilty plea, entered a year ago, has only now been made public as prosecutors seek to seize assets obtained through the crimes.
US Justice System Targets Conti Ransomware Operative with 4-Year Sentence
In a major win for cybersecurity, a Ukrainian national has been sentenced to four years in prison for his role in the notorious Conti ransomware attacks that hit 47 states and 31 countries, causing over $150 million in estimated damages. Oleksii Lytvynenko, 44, pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and was extradited to the US to face justice.
Ransom Cartel creator gets 16 years for cybercrime scheme
A 40-year-old Belarusian cybercriminal has been sentenced to 16 years in prison for masterminding a massive ransomware scheme that targeted at least 18 companies and attempted to extort a staggering $5.2 million. The defendant, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy and identity theft charges, was a longtime fixture on Russian-speaking cybercrime forums before his arrest and extradition.
Ransom Cartel Creator Sentenced to 16 Years for Global Cyberattacks
Meet Maksim Silnikau, the mastermind behind the notorious Ransom Cartel, who's now facing 16 years behind bars for masterminding a global cyberattack spree that targeted at least 18 companies and raked in millions for him. The US Department of Justice brought him to justice, sentencing him for conspiracy, wire fraud, and identity theft.
Ghanaian National Jailed for Stealing $10M in Romance Scams
Meet Derrick Van Yeboah, a 41-year-old Ghanaian national who was sentenced to nearly 7 years in prison for masterminding romance scams that swindled $10 million from unsuspecting victims, leaving a trail of heartbreak and financial ruin in his wake. As a "sakawa boy," Van Yeboah expertly impersonated romantic partners online, exploiting trust and vulnerability with devastating consequences.
Elder Data Trafficker Draws 10-Year Sentence
A massive data scam that compromised the personal info of over 7 million elderly Americans has landed its mastermind, 57-year-old Troy Murray, a 10-year prison sentence - a major victory in the fight against these heartless crimes. Murray, who went by the alias "Steve Dixon," was found guilty of running a scheme that sold sensitive data, including names, phone numbers, and addresses, to overseas scammers.
Google Engineer Charged with Insider Trading Using Company Data
A Google engineer, Michele Spagnuolo, has been charged with insider trading in the Southern District of New York for allegedly using company data to make lucrative bets on a cryptocurrency-based prediction market. He faces serious penalties, including up to 10 years in prison for commodities fraud and 20 years for wire fraud and money laundering.
Latvian Hacker Sentenced for Role in Former Conti Leaders' Ransomware Extortion Scheme
A Latvian hacker has been sentenced to 8.5 years in federal prison for his role in a massive ransomware extortion scheme that targeted over 54 companies, causing hundreds of millions of dollars in losses. Deniss Zolotarjovs, 35, helped former Conti leaders extort payments from victims over a two-year period.
US Charges Scattered Spider Hacker with Extortion, Cyber Intrusion
A 19-year-old hacker, known online as "Bouquet," has been arrested in Finland and charged in the US with extortion and cyber intrusion as a key player in the notorious Scattered Spider hacking collective. The dual US and Estonian citizen was caught at Helsinki airport while trying to flee to Japan.
US Charges Chinese Nationals in Myanmar Scam Compounds
The US has charged two Chinese nationals, Jiang Wen Jie and Huang Xingshang, with running forced-labor scam compounds in Myanmar that targeted Americans to the tune of at least $7.2 billion in 2025. Authorities have also seized over 503 domains used to perpetrate the fraud, dealing a significant blow to the scam operations.
Scotland Hacker Pleads Guilty in Scattered Spider Cybercrime Case
Meet Tyler Robert Buchanan, the 24-year-old mastermind behind the notorious Scattered Spider cybercrime gang, who has pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy and identity theft. With a potential 22-year prison sentence looming, Buchanan's guilty plea marks a major win for law enforcement in the fight against cybercrime.
Scattered Spider Member Pleads Guilty to $8 Million Crypto Heist
A 24-year-old British hacker, Tyler Robert Buchanan, has pleaded guilty to masterminding an $8 million crypto heist as part of the notorious Scattered Spider cybercrime group. His downfall began with a trail of seemingly harmless text messages that ultimately led to his guilty plea.
British Hacker Pleads Guilty to Crypto Theft Charges
A British hacker, allegedly the mastermind behind the notorious Scattered Spider cybercrime collective, has pleaded guilty to wire fraud and aggravated identity theft charges in a US court, dealing a significant blow to the shadowy network. This guilty plea marks a major win for law enforcement and raises important questions about the future of cybercrime and online security.
Scattered Spider Operative Pleads Guilty to US Federal Charges
In a major breakthrough, Tyler Robert Buchanan, a senior figure in the notorious Scattered Spider cybercrime group, has pleaded guilty to federal charges, bringing an end to his digital crime spree. Buchanan admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft in a US federal district court.