Brazilian Hacker Accused of Extorting $3.2M in Bitcoin After Compromising 300,000 Accounts

27.12.2024

A Brazilian man has been charged in the United States for allegedly threatening to release data he stole by hacking into a company’s network in March 2020. Junior Barros De Oliveira, 29, from Curitiba, Brazil, faces multiple charges, including extortion and threatening communications, after breaching the network of a Brazilian subsidiary of a New Jersey-based company. The hacking incidents resulted in the theft of sensitive customer data from around 300,000 individuals.

De Oliveira reportedly sent an email to the company’s CEO in September 2020, demanding 300 bitcoin (approximately $3.2 million at the time) in exchange for not selling the stolen data. He used an alias to communicate his extortion demand. A month later, he sent follow-up messages to both the CEO and an executive at the Brazilian subsidiary, reinforcing his threats.

In one of these communications, De Oliveira offered to help the company address its security vulnerabilities, but only if paid 75 bitcoin (around $800,000 at the time). He even provided instructions on how to transfer the payment to his Bitcoin wallet. The hacker’s demands were a clear attempt to exploit the company’s cybersecurity weakness for financial gain.

The extortion charges carry a potential sentence of up to five years in prison and fines of up to $250,000, or double the value of any gains or losses resulting from the crime. The threatening communication charges, on the other hand, could lead to a prison term of up to two years, along with similar financial penalties.

The case highlights the growing threat of cybercrime and the use of cryptocurrency to extort companies. As the legal proceedings unfold, the severity of De Oliveira’s alleged actions could set a significant precedent in cyber extortion cases.