Iran · Bitcoin · U.S. · New York · Bitcoin Magazine
Iranian Hacking Crew Charged in Sprawling Theft Case, Including $6 million Bitcoin Ransom
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A $10 million reward is being offered by the feds for information on the defendants.
Key facts
- Feds have hit 17 Iranians with criminal charges for allegedly conducting a years-long campaign of cyber attacks, including trying to extort HBO for $6 million in bitcoin
- The State Department’s Rewards for Justice program is now offering up to $10 million for information on the location of the defendants
- Founded around 2013 by Gholamreza Rafatnejad and Ehsan Mohammadi, the Mabna Institute allegedly worked at the behest of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian clients
- A $10 million reward is being offered by the feds for information on the defendants
Summary
Feds have hit 17 Iranians with criminal charges for allegedly conducting a years-long campaign of cyber attacks, including trying to extort HBO for $6 million in bitcoin. The U.S. Department of Justice said Tuesday that the 17 individuals were working with the Mabna Institute, which carried out hacking campaigns on behalf of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other Iranian government and university clients. Hundreds of U.S. and international universities, dozens of companies, and at least five state and federal government agencies were targeted in the campaign. Part of the indictment mentioned Behzad Mesri, who was previously charged with hacking entertainment giant Home Box Office, HBO, and stealing proprietary data.