Law enforcement in Ukraine has arrested another suspect involved in an international hacking group that organized large-scale cyberattacks against individuals and companies in Europe and the United States. The perpetrator is suspected of laundering funds obtained through criminal means via cryptocurrency transactions.
This is reported by Business • Media
“According to the investigation, the man was responsible for withdrawing and ‘washing’ money that was transferred to controlled cryptocurrency wallets, which was later converted into cash and legalized in Ukraine, including through the purchase of real estate and valuable assets.”
How the Hacking Group Operated
It has been established that members of the group used malicious software to steal personal information and documents. After gaining access to the data, they demanded ransom, threatening to disclose confidential information. The stolen funds were transferred to cryptocurrency wallets controlled by group members and subsequently laundered through financial transactions in Ukraine.
Investigators note that the total amount of damages caused by the criminals exceeds $100 million.
Details of the Arrest and Seized Assets
During additional operational measures, the location of another group member was identified and arrested. The court ordered him to be held in custody with the possibility of posting bail set at 399 million UAH.
As part of the investigation, over 30 searches have been conducted, assets worth over 80 million UAH have been seized, and $1 million in cash along with cryptocurrencies valued at approximately $8.3 million have been confiscated. Among the seized assets were residential houses, apartments, and vehicles.
Previously, law enforcement had uncovered similar fraudulent schemes where criminals, imitating investments in ‘promising cryptocurrency projects’, deceived citizens of the European Union out of their money.