The U.S. Division of the Treasury has blacklisted seven Bitcoin pockets addresses linked to members of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).
The division stated in a Sept. 14 press launch that the Iran-based malicious cyber actors have launched ransomware assaults in opposition to the U.S. since 2020. The group is claimed to have attacked the New Jersey municipality, some U.S-based kids’s hospitals, and a bunch of personal institutions.
The IRGC-affiliated people embrace Mansour, Ali Ahmadi, Mohammad Ahmadi, Mahdavi, Rashidi, Khatibi, Nikaeen, Mostafa, Mojtaba, and Shakeri. That they had labored for Najee Know-how and Afkar System corporations to launch their malicious actions.
4 of the backlisted bitcoin (XBT) wallets have been linked to Nikaeen Ravari and whereas three belonged to Ahmad Khatibi Aghada. The duo is claimed to have helped the IRGC develop and deploy ransomware that threatened the nationwide safety of the U.S.
On account of the sanction, the Treasury has seized all properties belonging to the designated people within the nation. U.S individuals and establishments are prohibited from transacting with them, as anybody indicted shall be subjected to additional sanctions.
Secretary of the Treasury Mind E. Nelson stated:
“We are going to proceed to take coordination motion with our world companions to fight and deter ransomware threats, together with these related to the IRGC.”
The Treasury additionally supplied as much as $10 million in rewards for any data that can result in the arrest of Mansour, Nikaeen, or any of the designated people.
Ransomware Attackers choosing Bitcoin
Between 2011 and 2021, over $5 billion value of Bitcoin has been paid out to ransomware attackers, based on a examine by the Monetary Crimes Enforcement Community (FinCEN).
The ransomware assault in opposition to Colonial Pipeline in 2021 pressured the American firm to pay out $4,4 million in Bitcoin to the DarkSide hackers.
A latest report by CipherTrace reveals that ransomware attackers who decide to obtain their funds in Bitcoin normally add between 10% to twenty% premiums. The additional cost is to cope with the chance of utilizing simply traceable cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin.
