US extradites Russian accused of extorting millions in Phobos ransomware payments | TechCrunch
The U.S. government has extradited an alleged Russian hacker who was a key administrator of the Phobos ransomware operation, which has extorted at least $16 million from over a thousand victims globally.
Phobos Ransomware Administrator Extradition
Evgenii Ptitsyn, 42, is accused of administering the sale, distribution, and operation of the Phobos ransomware, and faces charges including wire fraud conspiracy, wire fraud, computer fraud and abuse, and extortion.
Victims of the Phobos ransomware include a Maryland-based company, several healthcare providers, a New York-based law enforcement union, a U.S. Department of Defense contractor, and a North Carolina children's hospital.
The feds were able to track Ptitsyn because the decryption fees were transferred to a cryptocurrency wallet under his control, according to the indictment.