Cyber Crime
Massive Data Breach: Man Arrested For Selling Data Of 300 Million On Closed Telegram Groups
The Ukrainian cyber police have arrested a 36-year-old man from Netishyn, a city in western Ukraine, for allegedly selling stolen data to Russian buyers on closed Telegram groups and channels.
The man is accused of selling personal information, including passport details, taxpayer numbers, birth certificates, driver’s licenses, and bank account data, on an estimated 300 million Ukrainian and EU citizens.
The databases were discovered during the police operation, and the man is said to have sold the data for between $500 and $2000, receiving payment in banned currencies.
The police officers, who teamed up with Svyatoshyn district prosecutor’s office, also revealed that the man obstructed their investigation and attacked a police officer during his arrest. The officers seized several items, including mobile phones, dozens of hard drives, SIM cards, and computer and server equipment, from the suspect’s property.
The man is being investigated under Part 2 of Article 361-1 for the creation of software for illegal use or distribution/sale, Article 362 for unauthorized access to computers/networks, and is also likely to be charged under Part 2 of Article 345 for threatening or attacking a law enforcement officer.
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Ukraine has been a hotbed for cybercrime, and the European citizens have often been the victims. The Ukrainian police have previously arrested five Ukrainian members of a transnational fraud gang responsible for an estimated $200m in losses. Moreover, last month, the police claimed to have disrupted a prolific phishing gang, which allegedly made $4.3m from victims across Europe.
However, a report from Recorded Future in January revealed that the Russian invasion had caused a chilling impact on the underground market for stolen cards, resulting in a decrease in the volume of card-not-present records on dark web carding shops by 24% YoY, to 45.6 million. Additionally, there was a 62% slump in card-present records, to 13.8 million. The report blamed mass mobilization, migration, energy instability, inconsistent internet connectivity, and deteriorated server infrastructure for the decline.
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