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Organized Crime Racket Running Ransomware Attacks on MNCs Arrested in Russia

In cooperation with the Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation suppressed the illegal activities of members of an organized criminal community in the cities of Moscow, St. Petersburg, Moscow, Leningrad and Lipetsk regions.

The basis for the search activities was the appeal of the competent US authorities, who reported on the leader of the criminal community and his involvement in encroachments on the information resources of foreign high-tech companies by introducing malicious software, encrypting information extorting money for its decryption.

The FSB of Russia established the full composition of the REvil criminal community and the involvement of its members in the illegal circulation of means of payment and documented illegal activities.

To implement the criminal intent, these persons developed malicious software, organized the theft of funds from the bank accounts of foreign citizens and their cashing out, including by purchasing expensive goods on the Internet.

As a result of a complex of coordinated investigative and operational search activities, funds were seized at 25 addresses at the places of residence of 14 members of the organized criminal community: over 426 million rubles, including in cryptocurrency, 600 thousand US dollars, 500 thousand euros, as well as computer equipment, crypto wallets used to commit crimes, 20 premium cars purchased with money obtained from crime.

The detained members of the OPS were charged with committing crimes under Part 2 of Art. 187 "Illegal circulation of means of payment" of the Criminal Code of Russia.

As a result of the joint actions of the FSB and the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Russia, the organized criminal community ceased to exist, the information infrastructure used for criminal purposes was neutralized.
Representatives of the competent US authorities were informed about the results of the operation.