Search
Kraken says its being extorted following bug bounty report
19.6.2024
The bug resulted in at least $3 million worth of stolen funds, but no user funds were endangered, according to Kraken
U.S. DOJ Identifies and Charges LockBit Ransomware Gang Leader with Fraud, Extortion
7.5.2024
U.S. authorities have identified Russian national Dmitry Khoroshev as the mastermind behind the notorious LockBit ransomware gang, and are offering a $10 million reward for information that leads to his arrest
Former Ethereum Adviser Intends to Sue U.S. Government for $9.6B Over Dropped Extortion Charges
10.4.2024
The former Ethereum adviser has retained well-known civil liberties lawyer Alan Dershowitz to serve as a consultant on constitutional issues in the case
After Exit Scam, Incognito Darknet Market Operators Now Threaten User Data Leak in Extortion Twist
12.3.2024
Numerous accounts have recently revealed that shortly after the darknet market (DNM) Incognito apparently conducted an ‘exit scam,’ its operators have now informed their clients and merchants they are facing extortion. The team behind Incognito claims possession of crypto asset...
Judge Kaplan Rejects Bankman-Fried’s Request for Sentencing Delay, Affirms March 2024 Date
21.12.2023
In a recent development in the high-profile case of Sam Bankman-Fried, the founder of the now-defunct crypto exchange FTX, a request for postponement of the sentencing hearing was firmly denied by U.S. District Judge Lewis Kaplan. Bankman-Fried’s legal team had sought a four to six-week...
Report: Bankman-Fried Struggles With Extortion Attempts Behind Bars in Brooklyn’s MDC
1.12.2023
Sam Bankman-Fried (SBF), previously a key figure in the crypto sphere, encountered a stark contrast to his past life at the Metropolitan Detention Center (MDC) in Brooklyn. Gene Borrello, a past mob enforcer for the Bonanno crime family, shared insights with journalist Tiffany Fong about the daily...
‘End the Extortion:’ BlockFi Creditors File to Liquidate Estate
28.6.2023
Creditors accuse CEO Zac Prince of defrauding customers and the company of “mischief” in delaying a wind-up
AI Deepfakes Becoming Tool of Choice in Cyber Extortion, Says FBI – How is Crypto Being Used in the Process?
6.6.2023
The Federal Bureau of Investigation has issued a stark warning about the growing threat of "deepfakes" being used in cyber extortion.
In a recent report, the FBI said that malicious actors are using deepfakes to manipulate photographs or videos, often obtained from social media accounts or...
U.S. Prosecutors Drop Extortion Charges Against Early Adviser to Ethereum Network
15.5.2023
Criminal extortion charges against Steven Nerayoff, an early adviser to the Ethereum network, were dismissed by a New York judge on May 5, ending a three-and-a-half year legal battle that included explosive allegations he made against U.S. investigators
Economist Paul Krugman Criticizes Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis’ Opposition to Central Bank Digital Currency
15.4.2023
Economist Paul Krugman questioned why Republican Florida governor Ron DeSantis opposes a central bank digital currency (CBDC) in a recent opinion editorial. Krugman suggested that DeSantis may be motivated by “general paranoia.” He speculated that DeSantis may be influenced...
OpenSea Accused of Theft, Negligence and Extortion by User Suing NFT Marketplace for $500,000
8.2.2023
OpenSea has a security and fraud problem and if one account holder on the NFT marketplace is right, it is negligent in protecting its customers and guilty of extortion.
As prominent NFT creator, collector and venture capitalist Kevin Rose would no doubt attest, theft in the NFT space is a serious...
Hive Ransomware Network Dismantled by American, European Law Enforcement
27.1.2023
Law enforcement authorities from over a dozen countries in Europe and North America have taken part in disrupting the activities of the Hive ransomware group, the U.S. Justice Department and Europol announced. Hive is believed to have targeted various organizations worldwide in the past couple...
Hacker Sent to Prison for Robbing Vietnamese Crypto Exchange
9.1.2023
Authorities in Vietnam have caught and sentenced a hacker who stole money and data from a local cryptocurrency exchange. The man, who was arrested and charged for extorting the trading platform’s owner, has been ordered to return the money he misappropriated. Vietnamese Court Jails Hacker...
Coinbase clarifies bug bounty policy in response to Uber extortion verdict
30.11.2022
The policy clarification stated that participants cannot make threats, use extortion, or access customer data beyond what is accidental or occurs in good faith
Coinbase Foils Extortion Attempt, Reinforces Bug Bounty Program
30.11.2022
The self-proclaimed hacker demanded $450,000 after falsely claiming to be in possession of sensitive Coinbase customer data
Russian Court Recognizes Cryptocurrency as Means of Payment, Prosecutors See Precedent
24.5.2022
The City Court of St. Petersburg has recognized a large amount of cryptocurrency handed over by the victim in an extortion case as a means of payment, Russian media reported. The prosecutor’s office in Russia’s second-largest city describes the ruling as a precedent. Two Men Sentenced...
Monero crypto of choice as ransomware ‘double extortion’ attacks increase 500%
20.4.2022
A surge in ransomware in 2021 has also resulted in a surge in Monero usage as the method of payment as more criminal groups want only XMR
France Rejects Russian Request to Extradite BTC-e Operator Alexander Vinnik
22.5.2021
Judicial authorities in France have refused to grant the extradition request filed by Russia for Alexander Vinnik. According to the Russian Ombudsman, Vinnik is now ready to start a new hunger strike despite his health deteriorating after spending almost four years in detention. Court Case Against...
Stablecoin Issuer Tether Says It Is a Victim of a 500 BTC Ransom Demand Infoleak Threat
1.3.2021
Just days after the conclusion of its long-running feud with the Office of the Attorney General of New York, Tether says it is now a victim of an extortion attempt. According to the stablecoin issuer, the blackmailers are threatening to release documents they claim “will harm the bitcoin...
DDoS Attackers Return With Massive Extortion Campaigns in the Wake of Bitcoin Prices Surging
25.1.2021
Threat actors have been finding opportunities in bitcoin’s bullish trend to increase their extortion campaigns. Hackers are actively threatening companies with DDoS attacks unless they pay for bitcoin ransoms. Bull Run Prices Push Extortionists to Increase Bitcoin Ransom Demands According...