Authorities accuse MonsterCloud owner Zohar Pinhasi of misleading ransomware victims with false claims of proprietary decryption tools while secretly paying ransoms on their behalf. Prosecutors say the scheme defrauded hundreds of clients of more than $19 million and turned their desperation into profit. #ZoharPinhasi #MonsterCloud #ProPublica #FBI #JusticeDepartment
Keypoints
- Zohar Pinhasi is accused of running a fraudulent ransomware remediation scheme through MonsterCloud.
- He allegedly claimed to have proprietary tools to decrypt victim data, but no such tools existed.
- Prosecutors say he secretly paid ransomware demands using client fees without informing victims.
- The scheme allegedly generated over $19 million from hundreds of clients over five years.
- Pinhasi faces wire fraud charges and could receive up to 60 years in prison if convicted.
Read More: https://cyberscoop.com/monstercloud-zohar-pinhasi-ransomware-recovery-scheme/