# Maksim Yakubets

**en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maksim_Yakubets**

Contributors to Wikimedia projects


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**Maksim Yakubets**

Максим Викторович Якубец

**Born**


Maksim Viktorovich Yakubets

May 20, 1987

Ukraine


**Nationality** Ukrainian

**Other names** "Aqua," "Aquamo," "Shlulhnet," "388888"

**Citizenship** Russian

**Known for** Hacking


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Conspiracy
Conspiracy to Commit Fraud
Wire Fraud
Bank Fraud
Intentional Damage to a Computer


**Criminal charge(s)**

**Maksim Viktorovich Yakubets** [(Russian: Маҝсим Виҝторович Яҝубец) is a Russian[1]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russian_language)
computer expert and alleged computer hacker. He is alleged to have been a member of the
[Evil Corp, Jabber Zeus Crew, as well as the alleged leader of the Bugat malware conspiracy.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evil_Corp)

[2][3][4] Russian media openly describe Yakubets as a "hacker who stole $100 million", friend

of [Dmitry Peskov and discussed his lavish lifestyle, including luxury wedding with a daughter](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dmitry_Peskov)
of FSB officer Eduard Bendersky and Lamborghini with "ВОР" (Russian for "thief")
registration plate.[5][6][7] Yakubets impunity in Russia is perceived as clue of his close ties with
[FSB, but also criticized by domestic information security experts such as Ilya Sachkov.[8]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Security_Service)


## Indictments

On November 13, 2019, Yakubets was charged in the United States District Court for the
Western District of Pennsylvania for allegedly conspiring in the development, maintenance,
distribution, and infection of Bugat malware. The following day, he was charged in the United
States District Court for the District of Nebraska for his alleged involvement in the installation
of [Zeus.[9]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zeus_(malware))

## References

1. ^ _["MAKSIM VIKTOROVICH YAKUBETS". Federal Bureau of Investigation. Retrieved 9](https://www.fbi.gov/wanted/cyber/maksim-viktorovich-yakubets)_

_November 2021._
2. ^ _["USA V. YAKUBETS". November 14, 2019. As more fully described below,](https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1223591/download)_

_DEFENDANT and others (collectively, the "Jabber Zeus Crew") have infected_
_thousands of business computers with malicious software that captures passwords,_
_account numbers, and other information necessary to log into online banking accounts,_
_and have then used the captured information to steal millions of dollars from victims'_
_bank accounts._
3. ^ _"Russian National Charged with Decade-Long Series of Hacking and Bank Fraud_

_[Offenses Resulting in Tens of Millions in Losses and Second Russian National](https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-charged-decade-long-series-hacking-and-bank-fraud-offenses-resulting-tens)_
_Charged with Involvement in Deployment of "Bugat" Malware"._ _United States_
_Department of Justice. December 5, 2019._ _[Archived from the original on December 7,](https://archive.today/20191207230604/https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/russian-national-charged-decade-long-series-hacking-and-bank-fraud-offenses-resulting-tens)_
_2019. Retrieved June 29, 2020. Yakubets was the leader of the group of conspirators_
_involved with the Bugat malware and botnet, according to the indictment. As the leader,_
_he oversaw and managed the development, maintenance, distribution, and infection of_
_Bugat as well as the financial theft and use of money mules._


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4. Ng, Alfred (December 5, 2019). US puts $5 million bounty on Russian hacking group

_Evil Corp. leader". CNET._ _[Archived from the original on June 25, 2020. Retrieved June](https://archive.today/20200625050303/https://www.cnet.com/news/us-officials-put-5-million-bounty-on-russian-hacking-group-evil-corp-leader/)_
_29, 2020._
5. ^ _"Свадьба хакера Максима Якубца и дочери офицера группы ФСБ "Вымпел" за_

_£250 тыс. прошла в гольф-клубе Целеево". Русский Монитор | Russian Monitor_
_(in Russian). 2019-12-11. Retrieved 2021-10-13._
6. ^ _"Ручные хакеры, экстравагантные миллионеры Как Evil Corp — самая_

_[могущественная хакерская группировка в мире — связана с российскими](https://meduza.io/feature/2019/12/11/ruchnye-hakery-ekstravagantnye-millionery)_
_силовиками. Расследование Лилии Яппаровой". Meduza (in Russian). Retrieved_
_2021-10-13._
7. ^ _"Госдеп США: хакер Aqua из России разорил американцев на 70 миллионов_

_долларов". vesti.ru (in Russian). Retrieved 2021-10-13._
8. ^ _Seddon, Max (2021-10-13). "Russia sends warning to cyber security sector with_

_arrest of Ilya Sachkov". Financial Times. Retrieved 2021-10-13._
9. ^ _["WANTED BY THE FBI: MAKSIM VIKTOROVICH YAKUBETS". December 5, 2019.](https://www.justice.gov/opa/press-release/file/1223631/download)_

_Specifically, Yakubets was involved in the installation of malicious software known as_
_Zeus, which was disseminated through phishing emails and used to capture victims’_
_online banking credentials. These credentials were then used to steal money from the_
_victims’ bank accounts. On August 22, 2012, an individual was charged in a_
_superseding indictment under the moniker “aqua” in the District of Nebraska with_
_conspiracy to participate in racketeering activity, conspiracy to commit computer fraud_
_and identity theft, aggravated identity theft, and multiple counts of bank fraud. On_
_November 14, 2019, a criminal complaint was issued in the District of Nebraska that_
_ties the previously indicted moniker of “aqua” to Yakubets and charges him with_
_conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Yakubets is also allegedly the leader of the_
_Bugat/Cridex/Dridex malware conspiracy wherein he oversaw and managed the_
_development, maintenance, distribution, and infection of the malware. Yakubets_
_allegedly conspired to disseminate the malware through phishing emails, to use the_
_malware to capture online banking credentials, and to use these captured credentials_
_to steal money from the victims’ bank accounts. He, subsequently, used the malware to_
_install ransomware on victims’ computers. Yakubets was indicted in the Western_
_District of Pennsylvania, on November 13, 2019, and was charged with Conspiracy,_
_Conspiracy to Commit Fraud, Wire Fraud, Bank Fraud, and Intentional Damage to a_
_Computer._

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