ChainCatcher news, Russian cybercriminal Deniss Zolotarjovs has been charged in the United States with participating in a cybercrime organization that extorts victims and launders cryptocurrency.The 33-year-old resident of Moscow was indicted in Cincinnati, Ohio, on charges of conspiracy to commit money laundering, wire fraud, and extortion under the Hobbs Act. Zolotarjovs was arrested in Georgia in December 2023 and has recently been extradited to the United States. He is accused of being a key member of a cybercrime group that steals sensitive data from victims and demands ransom payments in cryptocurrency to prevent the release of the stolen information. The organization also operates a website that leaks or auctions stolen data.It is alleged that Zolotarjovs was involved in laundering the ransom payments. This is the first time a member of the organization has been extradited to the United States.

ChainCatcher news, according to Cointelegraph, the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) issued a warning on June 12, stating that impersonation scams have increased, often using "the names and titles of government employees." The CISA alert explains that its staff will never ask for wire transfers of "cash, cryptocurrency, or the use of gift cards." Reports indicate that scams have once again become "one of the biggest drivers of cryptocurrency crime, causing losses of $4.6 billion in 2023."

ChainCatcher news, according to Business Standard, the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has formed a specialized team in Singapore to assist countries in combating teams involved in cryptocurrency-related crimes. Interpol Secretary-General Jürgen Stock stated that cryptocurrencies pose challenges to law enforcement agencies in the absence of a legal framework.ChainCatcher previously reported that on September 26, South Korean prosecutors stated that Terra founder Do Kwon has been placed on Interpol's wanted list, to which Do Kwon responded that he did not see his name on Interpol's wanted list. (Source link)

Chain Catcher News, according to Bloomberg, a spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Justice stated that Nicholas McQuaid, the head of the Criminal Division's focus on cryptocurrency crimes, plans to leave this weekend. During his nearly 20 months at the Department of Justice, Nicholas McQuaid created a team dedicated to investigating and prosecuting cryptocurrency schemes. (Bloomberg)