- Millions of dollars worth of cryptocurrency has been seized by doj
- The wallet belongs to a suspected ransomware operator
- Ransomware, zeppelin, is functionally extinct
The US Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced a cryptocurrency book that contains over $ 2.8 million, has been seized after accusations of conspiracy to commit computer fraud and abuse, computer fraud and abuse and conspiracy to commit money laundering money that has been brought against the owner of the wallet.
Ianis Aleksandrovich Anthropenko is believed to have led the now -defunct Zeppelin -Ransomware operation that collapsed in 2022 to ‘target and attack a wide range of individuals, businesses and organizations around the world, including in the United States,’ the statement confirmed.
Zeppelin was a ransomware-as-a-service tool that uses phishing as a contact point using double pressing methods to steal and encrypt data to then sell (or threaten to sell) on the dark web.
Luxury assets
Alongside Cryptocurrency, DOJ also seized $ 70,000 in cash as well as a luxury vehicle, assets that are alleged to be involved in ransomware activity – mostly have been used to launder revenue earned through ransom payments.
‘These assets were laundered in various ways, including using Cryptocurrency Mixing Service Chip Mixes, which were taken down in a coordinated international operation in 2023. Anthropenko laundered cryptocurrency by exchanging cryptocurrency with cash and depositing cash in structured cash deposits.’
Zeppelin has been used to sacrifice organizations in manufacturing, IT, healthcare and financing industries – especially those that depend on sensitive data.
Raas was introduced in 2019, and tactics evolved over the next few years, with actors who used the tool to distribute malware. However, after slurked updated versions were released in 2021, the tool became significantly less prominent.
By 2022, the service was essentially abandoned. Security researchers Unit221b developed a decryptorn key after the tool was used to attack nonprofit organizations, homeless shelters and charities.
