Ransomware negotiator hired to represent victims was working for the attackers
Summary
Angelo Martino, a ransomware negotiator hired to help victims reduce ransom payments, was sentenced to nearly six years in prison for working with cybercriminals to increase ransom demands. He shared confidential information from his clients with the ransomware group BlackCat and profited from the inflated payments.Key Facts
- Martino worked for DigitalMint, a company that negotiates with ransomware criminals to lower ransoms for its clients.
- Instead of helping victims, Martino gave secret negotiation details to BlackCat hackers to raise the ransoms.
- Victims paid over $75 million in ransom, some of it made higher by the information Martino leaked.
- Martino pleaded guilty, cooperating with authorities against two other conspirators, who received four-year prison terms.
- He earned millions in cryptocurrency from the scheme and used it to buy homes, a boat, and cars.
- The FBI seized some of Martino’s cryptocurrency assets.
- The ransomware group BlackCat caused major problems in industries like healthcare and finances by encrypting data and demanding payment.
- The U.S. government offers rewards up to $10 million for information on BlackCat members.
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