A Ukrainian national has been added to the EU’s Most Wanted list. He’s considered to be a high-value cybercrime suspect and a leading figure in an organized crime network. Aside from Europe wanting him, the US Department of Justice (DOJ) is also offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to his arrest. The suspect’s profile is now available on the EU Most Wanted list and Europol is asking the public for help.
The individual in question, 28-year-old Volodymyr Tymoshchuk, is believed to be responsible for a 2019 ransomware attack on a major Norwegian aluminum company. The attacks were carried out using the LockerGoga ransomware. Tymoshchuk is believed to be a leading individual in a crime network that has caused billions of dollars in global damages. The group’s activities, from 2018 to 2020, disrupted hundreds of companies.
The suspect was identified as a result of a complex international investigation. The case involved close cooperation between law enforcement agencies in France, Germany, Norway, Switzerland, Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition, Europol and Eurojust provided support for the investigation.
The suspect’s name is Volodymyr Tymoshchuk, a 28-year-old Ukrainian male, approximately 5’11” (180cm) with brown eyes. He is also known by several aliases including Deadforz, Boba, Framework, Msfv, and Volotmsk. His listed crimes include computer-related crime, participation in a criminal organization, and racketeering and extortion.
Given the number of governments hunting down this cybercriminal, it"ll be interesting to see how long he remains at large. The Ukrainian government is also highly dependent on these governments for its defense efforts against Russia so behind the scenes these governments could push the Ukrainian government to double down on efforts to apprehend Tymoshchuk.
Source: Europol and EUMostWanted | Image via DepositPhotos.com