9 charged for stealing millions of dollars with Zeus Malware

The Zeus malware is one of the most damaging pieces of financial malware that has helped the culprits to infect thousands of business computers and capture passwords, account numbers and other information necessary to log into online banking accounts.


U.S. Department of Justice unsealed charges against nine alleged cyber criminals for distributing notorious Zeus malware to steal millions of dollars from bank accounts.

Vyachesla V Igorevich Penchukov, Ivan Viktorvich Klepikov, Alexey Dmitrievich Bron, Alexey Tikonov, Yevhen Kulibaba, Yuriy Konov Alenko, And John Does are charged to devise and execute a scheme and artifice to defraud Bank Of America, First Federal Savings Bank, First National Bank Of Omaha, Key Bank, Salisbury Bank & Trust, Union Bank And Trust, And United Bankshares Corporation, all of which were depository institutions insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation.

They are also accused to use Zeus, or Zbot, computer intrusion, malicious software, and fraud to steal or attempt to steal millions of dollars from several bank accounts in the United States, and elsewhere.

It has also been reported that defendants and their co-conspirators infected thousands of business computers with software that captured passwords, account numbers, and other information necessary to log into online banking accounts, and then used the captured information to steal millions of dollars from account-holding victims' bank accounts.

Account holding victims include Bullitt County Fiscal Court, Doll Distributing, Franciscan Sisters Of Chicago, Husker Ag, Llc, Parago, Inc., Town Of Egremont, And United Dairy...


They have also been given notice by the United States of America, that upon conviction of any defendant, a money judgment may be imposed on that defendant equal to the total value of the property subject to forfeiture, which is at least $70,000,000.00.

The United States of America has also requested that trial of the case be held at Lincoln, Nebraska, pursuant to the rules of this Court. The Metropolitan Police Service in the U.K., the National Police of the Netherlands’ National High Tech Crime Unit and the Security Service of Ukraine are assisting the investigation.