Two very young men are accused of being involved in a highly sophisticated international cybercrime syndicate
Two young Western Australian men were allegedly involved in an international cybercrime gang that stole sensitive data and user information from thousands of global businesses and government agencies.
Ruben Ian Thomas, 21, from Cottesloe and Louis Michael Gaebler, 23, from Mandurah were arrested following a joint investigation with Australian Federal Police and the FBI.
They are accused of receiving cryptocurrency payments for their roles in alleged criminal activity.
A police spokesman said they were still investigating how much the men were allegedly paid.
Cottesloe man Ruben Ian Thomas, 21, was arrested over his role in an international cybercrime syndicate. Picture: AFP
Police allege Mr Thomas and Mr Gaebler were part of a highly organised syndicate involved in large-scale cybercrime that involved data intrusion, identity crime and cryptocurrency money laundering.
An AFP spokesman said they were tipped off about a group that allegedly inserted malicious code into software on an open-source repository, which was then unwittingly used by other developers.
The AFP and FBI ran a parallel investigation into the syndicate that began in April this year.
They allege infected software was distributed into government, academia and private sector computer systems to steal and harvest sensitive data including user credentials and authentication material.
Mandurah man Louis Michael Gaebler, 23, faces six charges for his alleged role in an international cybercrime syndicate. Picture: AFP
“They allegedly compromised a small number of trusted software components that had a significant global impact,” a spokesman said.
“To date, the financial impact includes global remediation costs estimated to be hundreds of millions of dollars.”
Police raided properties in Cottesloe, Hamilton Hill and Mandurah and seized electronic devices and other items on Wednesday.
Mr Thomas has been charged possession of data with intent to commit a computer offence, four counts of unauthorised modification of data to commit a serious offence, supplying data with intent to commission a serious offence and dealing with the proceeds of crime worth more than $100,000.
Mr Gaebler has been charged with possessing data with intent to commit a computer offence, four counts of unauthorised modification of data with intent to commit a serious offence and supplying data with intent to commit a computer offence.
They were both due to face the Perth Magistrates Court on Thursday.
SOURCE: NEWS.COM.AU
https://www.news.com.au/technology/online/hacking/young-west-aussies-allegedly-stole-from-thousands-of-global-businesses-as-part-of-an-international-cybercrime-gang-cops/news-story/d6a61d53ec1272fe32a5c72232480927
