Hacker Pleads Guilty to Theft of $1.2 million
Posted by: Timothy Weaver on 02/09/2017 02:29 PM
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An online banking scam has netted one of the thieves a future in the big house.
Vyacheslav Khaimov, 55, has pleaded guilty to having been a part of a banking ring that stole $1.2 million from banking customers.
In one case, malware was loaded on a banking customer’s computer and acquired his banking login details. His account was drained of $44,000. The FBI traced the withdraw to a money mule who sent $42,500 to Vyacheslav Khaimov. Five days later, Khaimov forward $24,580 of the money to a Thai bank account.
The FBI found that Khaimov was a key figure in a banking ring that netted him an estimated that $230,000. The ring is said to have netted close to $1.2m in ill-gotten gains. The FBI said the ring was trying to steal as estimated $6 million.
"The proliferation of malicious software is a scourge on our society. Cybercriminal networks like the network that the defendant allegedly was a part of are responsible for pillaging innocent victims' bank accounts and wreaking havoc on our financial institutions through the use of malware," said US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Robert Capers.
Khauov pleaded guilty to five counts including wire and banking fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. The FBI is also looking for a Samuel Gold, who allegedly hired the money mules.
"Modern-day bank robbers no longer need a gunman and a getaway driver. Today, they just need a malware operator and money mules to carry out their crime from anywhere in the world," said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney.
Source: The Register

In one case, malware was loaded on a banking customer’s computer and acquired his banking login details. His account was drained of $44,000. The FBI traced the withdraw to a money mule who sent $42,500 to Vyacheslav Khaimov. Five days later, Khaimov forward $24,580 of the money to a Thai bank account.
The FBI found that Khaimov was a key figure in a banking ring that netted him an estimated that $230,000. The ring is said to have netted close to $1.2m in ill-gotten gains. The FBI said the ring was trying to steal as estimated $6 million.
"The proliferation of malicious software is a scourge on our society. Cybercriminal networks like the network that the defendant allegedly was a part of are responsible for pillaging innocent victims' bank accounts and wreaking havoc on our financial institutions through the use of malware," said US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York Robert Capers.
Khauov pleaded guilty to five counts including wire and banking fraud, conspiracy, and money laundering. The FBI is also looking for a Samuel Gold, who allegedly hired the money mules.
"Modern-day bank robbers no longer need a gunman and a getaway driver. Today, they just need a malware operator and money mules to carry out their crime from anywhere in the world," said FBI Assistant Director-in-Charge William Sweeney.
Source: The Register
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