MonsterCloud CEO indicted over alleged ransomware recovery scam
Original title: Data Recovery CEO Indicted for Allegedly Scamming Ransomware Victims
Zohar Pinhasi allegedly billed clients more than $19 million while secretly paying over $8 million in ransoms and pleaded not guilty.
Federal prosecutors indicted Zohar Pinhasi, who ran Florida data-recovery firm MonsterCloud, on charges that he defrauded ransomware victims. According to the Justice Department, he told clients he could restore encrypted files without paying attackers, then paid the ransoms and added large fees. Investigators say he charged more than $19 million and paid more than $8 million in ransoms. A U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesperson said he pleaded not guilty; he faces up to 20 years if convicted.
Unconfirmed: The charges are allegations; Pinhasi has pleaded not guilty and has not been convicted.
- In one example he allegedly paid about $8,200 and charged about $150,000.
- The Justice Department announced the case in an October 7 press release.
- Pinhasi, also known as Zack Green, did not return messages, ProPublica reports.
- Former FBI deputy director John Pistole appeared in a MonsterCloud promo but is not named in the indictment.
- Organizations
- MonsterCloudJustice DepartmentFBI
- Countries
- United States
From the original article
4 min read at propublica.org
A Florida man who was the subject of a 2019 investigation by ProPublica was indicted last month on federal charges that he defrauded clients of his ransomware data recovery firm. According to the Justice Department, the man, Zohar Pinhasi, told customers he could recover their encrypted files without having to pay hackers, when, in reality, he paid the ransom and charged victims a hefty fee on top.
By hn_acker · propublica.org
A short excerpt; the article and its images belong to the publisher. Summary, key facts and assessment above are AI-written from the article and can be wrong.