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Dual-Citizen, 19, Charged in Cyber Hacking Scheme Involving $100M in Ransom
The group is accused of more than 100 intrusions that caused over $100 million in ransom payments and millions more in damages, prosecutors said.
- On Wednesday, a 19-year-old Peter Stokes, dual citizen of the United States and Estonia, was extradited from Finland to face federal conspiracy, computer intrusion, and fraud charges in Illinois.
- Known as "Scattered Spider," the hacking group has conducted more than 100 network intrusions, generating over $100 million in ransom payments, including 2023 attacks on Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts International.
- Members conduct phishing attacks by sending bogus text messages to employees, granting surreptitious system access. Stokes appeared in Chicago federal court on Tuesday, where a judge ordered him to remain in custody.
- Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said the group inflicted millions of dollars in damages, while FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Brett Leatherman emphasized international partnerships are vital for holding such actors accountable.
- U.S. prosecutors announced criminal charges in 2024 against other alleged members of the loose-knit hacking community, and authorities continue investigating aggressive cybercrime sprees targeting multinational companies and individual cryptocurrency investors.
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Alleged longstanding member of Scattered Spider extradited to US
A 19-year-old alleged member of the Scattered Spider extortion crew was extradited to the United States last week and remains in federal custody awaiting several cybercrime charges, the Justice Department said Wednesday. Peter Stokes, a dual citizen of the United States and Estonia, was allegedly involved in Scattered Spider since it formed in 2022 and boasted on social media about the luxurious globetrotting life he enjoyed while he was still …
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Total News Sources24
Leaning Left0Leaning Right1Center10Last UpdatedBias Distribution91% Center
Bias Distribution
- 91% of the sources are Center
91% Center
C 91%
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