The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned two Iranians allegedly involved in Bitcoin ransomware scheme SamSam, the Treasury reported in an official press release today, Nov. 28.The U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control has taken action on Wednesday against two Iranian individuals, Ali Khorashadizadeh and Mohammad Ghorbaniyan, who are accused of exchanging Bitcoin into Iranian rials.
This is also the first time that Bitcoin addresses have been publically attributed to "Designated individuals" on the OFAC's sanctions list.
According to the report, SamSam ransomware breaks into companies' computer networks, allowing criminals to take over administrator rights in order to demand a ransom in Bitcoin in exchange for regained network access by users.
The ransomware has reportedly damaged multiple companies, government agencies, universities, and hospitals, targeting more than 200 victims, the Treasury said.
OFEC has managed to identify two crypto addresses associated with the alleged Iran-based criminals, with 7,000 transactions in Bitcoin and around 6,000 BTC moved since 2013, the report states.
US Treasury Dept. Takes Action Against Two Iranians Allegedly Involved in BTC Ransomware
gepubliceerd op Nov 28, 2018
by Cointele | gepubliceerd op Coinage
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