Group-IB supported law enforcement in dismantling Ukrainian DDoS crime gang

Ukrainian Police supported by security firm Group-IB and other security firms dismantled a DDoS crime gang that blackmailed numerous companies worldwide.

Another example of successful collaboration between law enforcement agencies and security firms in the fight against cybercrime, the case sees Ukrainian Police supported by security firm Group-IB and other security firms dismantling a DDoS crime gang that had been launching distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks with extorsive intents against companies for over two years.

“The investigation department of Group-IB, an international company focused on cyber-attack prevention and data security products development, has helped to suppress the criminal activity of an organized group that had been involved in launching DDoS attacks and extortion for over two years.” reads the announcement published by Group-IB.

The investigation started in September 2015, after the group launched a DDoS attack on international online dating service AnastasiaDate demanding $10,000 for stopping the assault. The site of the company was taken down for hours.

“Other attacks targeted online stores, payment systems, as well as websites offering betting, lottery and gaming services.” continues Group-IB.

“In particular, the victims of the Ukrainian fraudsters included Stafford Associated, an American company leasing data center and hosting facilities, and PayOnline online payment service. The average ransom amount demanded by the criminals ranged from $1,000 to $10,000.”

The cybersecurity experts at Group-IB identified the attackers and linked the group to another attack powered by two Ukrainian individuals, Gayk Grishkyan and Inna Yatsenko. According to the investigators the duo had also previously targeted American leasing company Stafford Associated and the PayOnline payment service.

The two suspects later contacted the online dating service to demand ransom and threaten new DDoS attacks.

“In March 2017, the hackers’ apartments and offices were searched, and their computers and mobile phones confiscated. The forensic analysis that the data stored on the confiscated devices constituted an irrefutable evidence of Yatsenko and Grishkyan’s involvement in the extortion cases of 2015 and 2016.” concluded the announcement.

Now a court pleaded guilty to the crimes the two members of the DDoS crime gang and sentenced them to a five-year conditional sentence.

“We are satisfied with the successful outcome of the prosecution and the blow we have struck against cybercrime in Ukraine. The collaboration with our security partners has guaranteed the integrity of our services and helped reinforce our defenses for the future.” said AnastasiaDate’s US-based director, Lewis Ferro.

“It has been of the utmost importance to our international partners. It is another example of AnastasiaDate’s trustworthiness and diligence when it comes to member security, tackling fraud, and preventing criminal activity.”

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Pierluigi Paganini

(Security Affairs – DDoS crime gang, hacking)

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Pierluigi Paganini

Pierluigi Paganini is member of the ENISA (European Union Agency for Network and Information Security) Threat Landscape Stakeholder Group and Cyber G7 Group, he is also a Security Evangelist, Security Analyst and Freelance Writer. Editor-in-Chief at "Cyber Defense Magazine", Pierluigi is a cyber security expert with over 20 years experience in the field, he is Certified Ethical Hacker at EC Council in London. The passion for writing and a strong belief that security is founded on sharing and awareness led Pierluigi to find the security blog "Security Affairs" recently named a Top National Security Resource for US. Pierluigi is a member of the "The Hacker News" team and he is a writer for some major publications in the field such as Cyber War Zone, ICTTF, Infosec Island, Infosec Institute, The Hacker News Magazine and for many other Security magazines. Author of the Books "The Deep Dark Web" and “Digital Virtual Currency and Bitcoin”.