The US is offering $15 million for information on the ALPHV/BlackCat ransomware syndicate.
The gang has been wreaking havoc on companies since it first appeared in 2021. So far, it has victimized over 1,000 global entities, including corporations and government agencies. Losses exceed in the billions.
One of their most famous attacks happened last September when the group targeted multiple Las Vegas casino giants. Victims allegedly paid over $15 million in ransom just to keep their doors open without trouble.
On top of committing massive ransomware attacks themselves, they also operate as a ransomware-as-a-service model, supplying advanced malware and hacking tools to criminals around the world.
The FBI has been investigating the group for months, even staging an attack to steal the hacker’s dark web forum from them. While they succeeded in obtaining the website at first, hackers took it back. Both groups went toe to toe, battling over the forum. While it wasn’t the overwhelming win that the FBI wanted, it still cost the hacker group over $99 million in missed ransomware payments.
But the blow wasn’t decisive and the group remains at large, selling subscriptions and ransoming companies. Just last week, the group hacked the Trans-Northern Pipelines and made out with 183 GB worth of sensitive data.
That’s why the US State Department has put forth a massive bounty for anyone who knows anything about the group. The first $10 million goes towards anyone who can correctly identify a member of the ALPHV/BlackCat.
The remaining $5 million is being given to anyone who supplies them with information that leads to “the arrest or conviction of anyone participating in or conspiring or attempting to participate in a ransomware attack using the ALPHV/Blackcat variant.”
The State Department’s Transnational Organized Crime Rewards Program (TOCRP) controls the bounty. To submit an anonymous tip, use the Tor-based tip line they provide.