Botnet: Alleged Cybercrime Ringleader Arrested by US and Allies, Millions in Sports Cars Seized in Major Covid-19 Fraud Bust

A 35-year-old Chinese man has been arrested in Singapore in connection with a global cybercriminal network that defrauded the US government of billions of dollars. YunHe Wang is accused of helping assemble a botnet, a network of infected computers, that was used for various criminal activities, including bomb threats, child exploitation materials, and financial fraud.

The Department of Justice alleges that the botnet was also used to submit fake applications for federal relief during the coronavirus pandemic, resulting in losses of approximately $5.9 billion. Wang’s alleged involvement in the cybercriminal conduct funded a lavish lifestyle that included luxury assets such as watches, sports cars, and real estate properties across East Asia, the Middle East, the Caribbean, and the US.

Law enforcement agents seized about $4 million worth of assets, including a Ferrari and Rolls-Royce, and $30 million in real estate properties. Wang used the money he earned from renting the botnet to purchase properties in various locations. Authorities in Singapore and Thailand collaborated with the FBI on the bust.

The US government is pursuing Wang’s extradition to the US, and an investigation into other potential suspects is ongoing. Wang and other members of the criminal network allegedly used virtual private networking (VPN) to spread their malicious code, infecting millions of IP addresses worldwide.

This case is just one example of opportunistic fraud that has been rampant since the emergence of Covid-19. Fraudsters have taken advantage of federal economic stimulus packages, such as the CARES Act, to carry out their criminal activities. The Secret Service has appointed a National Pandemic Fraud Recovery Coordinator to address the issue and recover stolen funds.