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5mo ago

Russian Extradited to US for Alleged $16M Ransomware Scheme

Evgenii Ptitsyn faces multiple charges for his role in the Phobos ransomware operation targeting global entities.

This 2006 photo from the Library of Congress shows the Edward A. Garmatz Federal Building, home to the northern division of the US District Court for the District of Maryland, in Baltimore.
Evgenii Ptitsyn, 42, a Russian national, has been extradited to the US from South Korea to face ransomware charges
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Overview

  • Evgenii Ptitsyn, a 42-year-old Russian national, has been extradited from South Korea to the United States to face charges related to the Phobos ransomware operation.
  • The Phobos ransomware group is accused of extorting over $16 million from more than 1,000 victims worldwide, including schools, hospitals, and government agencies.
  • Ptitsyn allegedly served as an IT administrator, facilitating the distribution and operation of the ransomware and managing payments through cryptocurrency wallets.
  • Victims were reportedly charged between $12,000 and $300,000 for decryption keys, with a portion of the fees directed to wallets controlled by Ptitsyn.
  • If convicted, Ptitsyn faces up to 20 years in prison for each wire fraud count and additional penalties for other charges, including computer fraud and extortion.