ScamsNOW!
The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime
Ukrainian Scammer/Cryptojacker Arrested
Law Enforcement Action Against Cybercriminals
Authors:
• SCARS Editorial Team – Society of Citizens Against Relationship Scams Inc.
• EUROPOL
Article Abstract
A 29-year-old mastermind of a complex cryptojacking scheme, believed to have mined over EUR 1.8 million, was arrested in Mykolaiv, Ukraine.
The National Police of Ukraine, supported by Europol and a cloud provider, collaborated intensively to apprehend the suspect. Cryptojacking involves the unauthorized use of cloud infrastructure to mine cryptocurrencies, bypassing server and power costs.
The joint efforts highlight successful cooperation between law enforcement and the private sector. Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre played a crucial role, in establishing a virtual command post and providing forensic support. The arrest follows a cloud provider’s alert to Europol in January 2023 about compromised user accounts
Ukrainian Scammer/Cryptojacker Arrested in Ukraine over EUR 1.8 Million Mining Scheme
The National Police of Ukraine (Національна поліція України), with the support of Europol, has arrested an individual believed to be the mastermind behind a sophisticated scammer/cybercriminal cryptojacking scheme.
Ukrainian Arrested
The 29-year-old scammer/cybercriminal/cryptojacker was apprehended in Mykolaiv, Ukraine, on 9 January.
Three properties were searched to gather evidence against the main cybercriminal suspect. The arrest comes after months of intensive collaboration between Ukrainian authorities, Europol, and a cloud provider, who worked tirelessly to identify and locate the individual behind the widespread cryptojacking operation.
The suspect is believed to have mined over USD 2 million (EUR 1.8 million) in cryptocurrencies.
Free Money for Attackers, huge Cloud bills for Account Users
Cryptojacking in a cloud environment is a malicious cybercriminal activity or scam; malicious cybercriminals gain unauthorized access to cloud computing infrastructure and use its computational power to mine cryptocurrencies.
By stealing cloud resources to mine cryptocurrencies, cybercriminals can avoid paying the necessary servers and power, the cost of which typically outweighs the profits.
The compromised account holders are left with huge cloud bills.
When Law Enforcement works with Private Industry
This case illustrates the power of law enforcement joining forces with the private sector.
A cloud provider approached Europol back in January 2023 with information regarding compromised cloud user accounts. Europol shared this information with the Ukraine authorities, who subsequently opened an investigation.
Since then, all three partners have been working closely together to develop operational leads and prepare for the final phase of the investigation.
Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) set up a virtual command post on the action day, supporting the Ukrainian National Police from Europol’s headquarters, with analysis and forensic support on the data gathered during the searches.
More:
- European Cybercrime Centre – EC3 | Europol (europa.eu)
- Scam Warning: New Type Of Crypto Investment Scam – Liquidity Mining Crypto Scam (romancescamsnow.com)
- Cryptocurrency and Scams – Scam Basics (romancescamsnow.com)
- Airdrop Cryptocurrency Attack or Scam (romancescamsnow.com)
- North Korea Attacking The Crypto Ecosystem (romancescamsnow.com)
- 2023 BIG Cryptocurrency Investigator’s Handbook (romancescamsnow.com)
- Crypto Dusting Attack – Another Cryptocurrency Scam (romancescamsnow.com)
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Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.
These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.
Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org
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All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only
The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.
Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.
While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.
Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.
If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.
Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here
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A Question of Trust
At the SCARS Institute, we invite you to do your own research on the topics we speak about and publish. Our team investigates the subject being discussed, especially when it comes to understanding the scam victims-survivors’ experience. You can do Google searches, but in many cases, you will have to wade through scientific papers and studies. However, remember that biases and perspectives matter and influence the outcome. Regardless, we encourage you to explore these topics as thoroughly as you can for your own awareness.
