Nov 19, 02:22 PM

Evgenii Ptitsyn Extradited to U.S. Over $16M Phobos Ransomware Charges Affecting 1,000 Victims Since 2019

Evgenii Ptitsyn, a 42-year-old Russian national, has been extradited to the United States from South Korea to face charges related to his alleged role as an administrator of the Phobos ransomware. The U.S. Department of Justice announced that Ptitsyn is accused of leading a ransomware operation that extorted over $16 million from more than 1,000 victims, including schools, hospitals, and government institutions, since 2019. The charges were unsealed on November 18, 2024, highlighting the global impact of the Phobos ransomware, which operates under a Ransomware-as-a-Service (RaaS) model. The FBI was involved in securing his extradition, emphasizing the U.S. government's commitment to combating cybercrime.