Cyberpolice exposed a student in the sale of databases of more than 20 million citizens
With the help of a bot in the messenger, the defendant sold confidential, commercial and other information with limited access, including personal data of Ukrainians. Law enforcement officers removed databases from illegal circulation. The offender may face up to 5 years in prison.
The unauthorized sale of information was exposed by employees of the Cyber Police Department together with the Main Investigation Department of the National Police.
A 19-year-old resident of Kyiv, a student of one of the higher educational institutions, created a bot in the messenger to sell confidential and other information with limited access, including personal data of citizens of Ukraine. Access to the bot cost $1 a day or $4 for 20 attempts to find data on specific individuals. The defendant received payment on a crypto wallet.
In addition, the offender developed and implemented a mechanism for finding data on photos of people using artificial intelligence. He downloaded photographs from open sources on the Internet.
At the disposal of the defendant were databases of several tens of millions of citizens. He bought this information on thematic hacking forums.
At the place of residence of the offender, police officers conducted searches. Computer equipment and mobile phones have been removed. During the review of the seized equipment, the cyber police found databases that had been compromised between 2014-2019. These databases contained dates of birth, surnames, first names and patronymics of citizens, series and numbers of passports, individual tax numbers of taxpayers and telephone numbers, photo images of persons, etc.
Cyberpolice have removed databases of personal data from illegal circulation, and also blocked accounts used in illegal activities. Computer and technical examinations are currently being carried out.
Criminal proceedings under Part 2 of Art. 361-2 (Unauthorized sale or distribution of information with restricted access stored in computers, automated systems, computer networks or on media of such information) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine. The sanction of the article provides for up to five years in prison. Investigative actions continue.
Procedural guidance is carried out by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine.
Cyber Police Department of the National Police of Ukraine
