Hundreds of thousands of computers have been targeted with malware by a Russian computer hacker in a leading worldwide conspiracy, prompting an accusation of stealing more than $100 million from businesses and other bank accounts, the Associated Press reported.
Computers were infected with software that captured passwords and account numbers and stole millions of dollars from victims by a group led by the man, Evgeniy Bogachev, U.S. authorities said.
The gang members come from parts of Russia, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.
Although charged with conspiracy, wire, bank and computer fraud, and money laundering, Bogachev was not taken into custody, according to the U.S. attorney's office in Pittsburgh.
"The indictment against Bogachev concerns only one victim, Haysite Reinforced Plastics of Erie, in northwestern Pennsylvania. According to the indictment, the conspirators were able to steal roughly $824,000 from the company's bank accounts on one day alone, Oct. 20, 2011," the AP reported.
"Officials with the business did not immediately return phone calls for comment Monday. The accounts were with Pittsburgh-based PNC Bank, which declined to comment."
A news conference has been scheduled by the Justice Department on Monday to discuss the charges, CBS News reported.
"I would suggest that if you use a computer the information that we are providing to you today is very important," said U.S. Attorney David Hickton.
Among Bogachev's hacking scheme tools was malware known as Gameover Zeus.
"Frequently targeting the computers of small and mid-size businesses, the Gameover Zeus software intercepts passwords, and other private information that can be used to conduct wire transfers, and then initiates or redirects wire transfers from victims bank accounts to foreign bank accounts controlled by the criminals," said Assistant US Attorney General James Cole.
Last week, a federal judge in Pittsburgh granted a temporary restraining order against Bogachev and the others, demanding that they cease such activities. That order was unsealed along with the charges Monday.
