Britain, the United States, and Australia have imposed sanctions against Dmitry Khoroshev, a senior Russian leader of the cybercrime gang LockBit, British and U.S. authorities
announced Tuesday.
Dmitry Khoroshev was revealed as one of the key figures behind LockBit, a cybercriminal organization responsible for stealing over $1 billion from victims over the span of four years. Britain disclosed that Khoroshev will be subjected to asset freezes and travel bans.
"These sanctions are of immense importance and underscore the fact that cybercriminals like Dmitry Khoroshev cannot escape accountability, as they wreak havoc worldwide," stated Graeme Biggar, director general of Britain’s National Crime Agency.
LockBit generates revenue by infiltrating computer systems, extracting sensitive data, and threatening to release it unless victims pay a ransom. The group has targeted more than 2,500 victims globally, including major corporations.
According to a 26-count U.S. indictment unsealed on Tuesday, Khoroshev received at least $100 million in Bitcoin payments from LockBit's criminal activities.
In February, law enforcement agencies, including the NCA, U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, and Europol, seized control of LockBit's infrastructure. The group's ransomware site was seized by authorities and utilized to disclose internal information about the organization and its operatives.
The U.S. Department of State is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information that leads to the arrest of Khoroshev. A similar award is being offered for the identification or whereabouts of other leaders within the LockBit group.
"Russia continues to provide a safe haven for cybercriminals, allowing groups like LockBit to launch ransomware attacks against the United States, its allies, and partners," stated a U.S. Treasury Department release.
This report includes information from Reuters. Photo by Santeri Viinamäki, Wikimedia commons.
