Law enforcement in Britain have taken into custody a 17-year-old teenager suspected to be affiliated with a cybercrime syndicate that carried out severe ransomware attacks last year on MGM Resorts and various other corporations.
In September last year, the large hotel and casino chain MGM Resorts suffered a cyber assault that led to guests waiting for extensive periods to check in, residents facing difficulties entering their rooms, ATM services being disrupted, and the shutdown of websites, TV services, and telephone communication.
During that period, all MGM Resorts properties in Las Vegas, including the Aria, the Bellagio, Luxor, MGM Grand, and Mandalay Bay, were affected by the incident.
A number of individuals took to social media to share their experiences of being at a casino that had been brought to a halt by malicious hackers.
It was only after 10 days that MGM Resorts announced it had returned to “normal operations,” and subsequently conceded that the hackers managed to obtain personal data, including names, contact information, gender, date of birth, driver’s license and passport details, and even Social Security numbers, of certain guests.
It later came to light that the hackers manipulated MGM’s IT helpdesk, posing as an employee locked out of their account over the phone, and duped staff into divulging login credentials which enabled them to execute the ransomware scheme.
The financial toll on MGM Resorts has been estimated to exceed US $100 million.
The 17-year-old individual detained in Walsall, England, last week in a coordinated effort by West Midlands Police and the FBI, is suspected to be part of the “Scattered Spider” cybercrime faction and was initially apprehended on suspicion of extortion and offenses under the Computer Misuse Act, as stated in a press release from the Regional Organised Crime Unit for the West Midlands (ROCUWM).
“This arrest follows a sophisticated inquiry that extends to the United States. We have collaborated closely with the National Crime Agency and FBI,” stated Detective Inspector Hinesh Mehta, Cyber Crime Unit Manager at ROCUWM. “These cyber factions have targeted prominent entities with ransomware, successfully victimizing numerous individuals globally and extorting large sums of money. We aim to convey a strong message that we will apprehend you. The risks outweigh the benefits.”
MGM Resorts has expressed gratitude to law enforcement agencies for their efforts in apprehending and tracking down the alleged perpetrators of the attack, emphasizing that they did not comply with the ransom demands.
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