The US State Department is serious: There are rewards totaling $15 million for good information that leads to the capture of key people in the Blackcat group and its RaaS ALPHV. This tactic already helped in the capture of the Conti gang.
The US State Department is offering a reward of up to $10 million for information leading to the identification or location of individuals who hold key positions in the Transnational Organized Crime group behind the ALPHV/Blackcat ransomware variant. In addition, a reward offer of up to $5 million is being offered for information leading to the arrest and/or conviction in any country of an individual who conspires or attempts to participate in ALPHV/Blackcat ransomware activities . The tactic has already helped with the Conti group. After a while there was information that led to arrests.
FBI sought international cooperation
On December 19, 2023, the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the FBI announced collaboration with an international group of law enforcement agencies from the United Kingdom, Australia, Germany, Spain and Denmark to conduct a disruption campaign against the notorious ALPHV/Blackcat ransomware gang. The FBI has determined that ALPHV/Blackcat actors compromised over 1.000 victim organizations in the United States and elsewhere, including prominent government agencies (e.g., local governments, defense contractors, and critical infrastructure organizations).
Decryption tool prevented $100 million ransom
To date, the FBI has worked with dozens of victims in the United States and internationally to distribute a decryption tool to restore victims' systems and prevent approximately $99 million in ransom payments.
The FBI does not support paying a ransom in response to a ransomware attack. Paying ransom demands encourages more ransomware incidents and provides an incentive to engage in this type of illegal activity. If you are a victim of a ransomware incident, please visit stopransomware.gov.
Official contact address via Tor browser
The State Department has published the following gateway address where you can contact officials.
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The US State Department promises all informants absolute confidentiality.
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