A Russian man has been charged in Texas for running an online marketplace that sold thousands of stolen credentials and compromised accounts.
According to the indictment, 23-year-old Igor Dekhtiarchuk is accused of operating a cybercriminal marketplace known as Marketplace A, which has supported the sale of more than 48,000 compromised email accounts and more than 39,000 compromised online accounts since 2018.
According to the FBI, Dekhtiarchuk’s marketplace also sells authentication tools that “allow transnational organized crime and other cybercriminals to illegally access victims’ online accounts located around the world.”
Dekhtiarchuk, alias Floraby, began advertising the sale of compromised account data on Russian-language hacker forums in April 2018 and opened Marketplace A in May 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement.
On March 16, the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Texas indicted a Russian hacker on wire fraud, access device fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges, and last Thursday a federal warrant was issued for his arrest.
His current whereabouts are unknown, although a wanted notice released by the FBI states that Dekhtyarchuk was formerly a student at Ural State University in Yekaterinburg, Russia and most recently resided in Kamensk-Uralsky, Sverdlovsk Oblast.
The hacker is on the FBI’s most wanted list.
Igor Dekhtiarchuk, 23, is charged with running a cybercriminal marketplace known as Marketplace A, which has supported the sale of more than 48,000 compromised email accounts and more than 39,000 compromised online accounts since 2018, according to his indictment.
His current whereabouts are unknown, although a wanted notice issued by the FBI states that Dekhtyarchuk was formerly a student at Ural State University in Yekaterinburg, Russia and most recently resided in Kamensk-Uralsky, Sverdlovsk Oblast, Russia. The hacker is on the FBI’s most wanted list of cybercriminals.
Marketplace Specializes in the sale of illegally obtained access devices for compromised online payment platforms, retailers and credit card accounts.
It also offered extensive personal data associated with the true owners of these accounts, such as names, home addresses, login credentials, and payment card details.
The Marketplace A business is known as the “card store” in the world of cybercriminals, where unwitting victims’ credit card information is listed for criminals to purchase.
More than 5,000 people visit the site daily.
According to a Justice Department statement, Dekhtiarchuk was outraged when the FBI, through an undercover online employee (OCE), made a series of purchases at Marketplace A in the Eastern District of Texas.
VVC received purchased access devices via a link or in the Telegram messenger shortly after each purchase was made.
The FBI said that Marketplace A operates in the same way as a regular online retail store, with different viewing and purchasing options, as well as price tiers related to the value of the material on offer.
“This case illustrates the need for all of us right now to take action to protect our online identities, our personal data and our money accounts,” said Brit Featherston, Attorney for the Eastern District of Texas.
Dekhtiarchuk, alias Floraby, began advertising the sale of compromised account data on Russian-language hacker forums in April 2018 and opened Marketplace A in May 2018, the Department of Justice (DOJ) said in a statement.
If found guilty, Dekhtiarkuk faces up to 20 years in federal prison.
“Cybercriminals hide behind the glow of computer screens and harm Americans. These investigations require dedicated professionals who work tirelessly to stop thieves who steal from innocent people. We thank those who have dedicated their lives to fighting cybercriminals.”
The Houston FBI Special Agent in charge of the case, Jim Smith, said: “The cybercriminal marketplace run by Dekhtiarchuk promoted and facilitated the sale of compromised credentials, personally identifiable information (PII), and other sensitive financial information.
“The cybercriminals behind these marketplaces go to great lengths to hide their true identities and often use other sophisticated methods to further anonymize their activities. Success in these complex investigations depends on teamwork and collaboration between the FBI, our international partners, and our private sector partners.
If found guilty, Dekhtiarkuk faces up to 20 years in federal prison.