Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev, a Russian computer hacker, is being targeted by the FBI with a $3 million bounty — the largest sum the department has ever offered for a cybercriminal.
The bounty was posted Tuesday on the FBI's Twitter account as well as the
U.S. Department of State website.
Often going by the online monikers "lucky12345" and "slavik," Bogachev coordinated a scheme that installed malware on over a million computers. The botnet silently collected banking information, and stole more than $100 million from unsuspecting U.S. citizens. The Trojan horse software often went by the nicknames "Zeus" and "GameOver Zeus," and dates back to 2009. The FBI began investigating the case in 2011.
Bogachev is believed to be living in Russia, which could make an arrest nearly impossible, as the U.S. has no extradition treaty with the former Soviet state.
"This reward offer reaffirms the commitment of the U.S. Government to bring those who participate in organized crime to justice, whether they hide online or overseas," the U.S. Department of State wrote.
CBS News reported that Kaspersky Lab, a Russian cybersecurity company, recently uncovered a hacking ring that has stolen nearly $1 billion from banks around the world. It is unclear if that Bogachev was connected to that hacker syndicate, however.
In Bogachev's "Most Wanted" profile, the FBI wrote that he "was last known to reside in Anapa, Russia. He is known to enjoy boating and may travel to locations along the Black Sea in his boat. He also owns property in Krasnodar, Russia."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.