US-Israeli national charged with wire fraud after using cybersecurity company to pay off hackers
Zohar Pinhasi allegedly targeted business owners victimized by hackers and claimed to offer a service that decrypted data as an alternative to paying the hackers off
Assessment
A US-Israeli national faces federal wire fraud charges for allegedly running a scheme that preyed on businesses already victimized by hackers. Zohar Pinhasi reportedly posed as a legitimate cybersecurity firm offering data decryption services, but instead used client funds to pay the very hackers who had attacked them. The case raises questions about how easily victims can be exploited twice in the ransomware ecosystem. Watch for whether prosecutors can prove Pinhasi knowingly coordinated with the hackers rather than simply failing to deliver results.