Skip to content
War-and-conflicts — Industry — Finance — Strengthen Your Digital Fortress — banking-and-insurance — All about technology. — Gizmo's Legal Landscape — Politics — general-news — Crime-and-justice

U.S. Seizes Major Card-Checking Service, Indicts Russian Operator

The U.S. takes down a key tool for cybercriminals. The operator's luxury lifestyle may have led to his downfall.

,   and  Administrator
1 min read
In the picture we can see three boys standing near the desk on it, we can see two computer systems...
In the picture we can see three boys standing near the desk on it, we can see two computer systems towards them and one boy is talking into the microphone and they are in ID cards with red tags to it and behind them we can see a wall with an advertisement board and written on it as Russia imagine 2013.

U.S. Seizes Major Card-Checking Service, Indicts Russian Operator

U.S. authorities have seized the card-checking service Try2Check and unsealed an indictment against its operator, Denis Kulkov, a Russian national. The move comes after years of investigation into Kulkov's role in facilitating cybercrime, for which he has earned at least $18 million.

Try2Check, launched in 2005, processed over a million card-checking transactions monthly, charging 20 cents per transaction. It became the official service for several major cybercrime bazaars, including Vault Market, Unicc, and Joker's Stash. Kulkov, using the handles 'KreenJo' and 'Nordex', operated the service.

Investigators linked Kulkov to Try2Check through records from the seized cryptocurrency exchange BTC-e and his iCloud account. His real-life identity was confirmed through hacked records, including Russian email services and government databases. Kulkov lived in Russia and Germany before his arrest.

The U.S. government has put a $10 million bounty on Kulkov's head, with the Department of State offering the reward for his arrest or conviction. On May 3, 2023, the U.S. Secret Service and the Department of Justice seized Try2Check's websites. Kulkov is accused of making millions from his illicit activities, using the money to purchase luxury items like a Ferrari and a Land Rover.

The seizure of Try2Check and the indictment of Denis Kulkov mark a significant blow to the cybercrime ecosystem. Authorities continue to target Russian cybercriminals, with recent successes in apprehending those who have fled their home countries due to the war in Ukraine. The $10 million reward stands as a testament to the seriousness of Kulkov's alleged crimes and the international effort to bring him to justice.

Read also:

Related

Latest