Dark0de Reborn Secrets

How data analytics resulted in ransomware-linked money laundering bust

The Binance cryptocurrency exchange has explained how advances in data analytics helped it track down a small grouping of money launderers involved with various cybercrimes, such as the notorious Clop ransomware scam.

Ukrainian police announced the arrest of individuals and the takedown of infrastructure related to the ‘Clop'ransomware operation earlier this month.

Binance's statement confirms that those arrested were cashing out and laundering funds, as opposed to being behind the creation of the ransomware.

The group – also called FANCYCAT – had their fingers in numerous criminal scams including laundering money for dark web operators in addition to ransomware peddlers.
Follow the (digital) money

Analogous with drug dealers, dark0de reborn the funds extracted from victims through criminal activity such as for instance ransomware must be disguised before they can be safely spent in the real world to get goods. That's because any funds tied back to criminal activity can become the target of forfeiture orders.

Even if money is in digital form there is a have to launder it, with abusing exchanges being one of the main techniques in play.

"Blockchain analysis shows a network of money launderers living inside macro exchanges which deposit and withdraw together to scrub the money," according to Binance, the Cayman Islands-domiciled crypto exchange.