WASHINGTON, Nov 5 (NNN-AGENCIES) — The US Department of State announced a reward of up to US$10 million for information leading to the identification or location of any individual holding a key leadership position in cybercrime group DarkSide.
In addition, the State Department also said it was offering a reward of up to US$5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction in any country of an individual attempting to participate in a DarkSide ransomware incident.
The group was responsible for attacking the Colonial oil pipeline earlier this year, which led to US President Joe Biden raising the matter of ransomware gangs operating from Russia with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
US State Department spokesman Ned Price said there was also an offer of US$5 million “for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction in any country of any individual conspiring to participate in or attempting to participate in a DarkSide variant ransomware incident”.
“In offering this reward, the United States demonstrates its commitment to protecting ransomware victims around the world from exploitation by cyber criminals,” he said.
“The United States looks to nations who harbour ransomware criminals that are willing to bring justice for those victim businesses and organizations affected by ransomware.
“This reward is offered under the Department of State’s Transnational Organised Crime Rewards Program.
“The Department manages the TOCRP in close co-ordination with our federal law enforcement partners as part of a whole of government effort to disrupt and dismantle transnational organised crime globally, including cyber crime.
“More than 75 transnational criminals and major narcotics traffickers have been brought to justice under the TOCRP and the Narcotics Rewards Program since 1986. The Department has paid more than US$135 million in rewards to date.” — NNN-AGENCIES
