Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (MVD of Russia) on the conduct of an operation in St. Petersburg and the Leningrad Region, during which a group of persons engaged in mining (extraction) of cryptocurrencies by unauthorized connection to the power grid was identified and detained.
According to the information provided by the press service of the department, the attackers used modified electric meters programmed to underestimate the readings of electricity consumption. According to preliminary information, the damage to energy supply companies amounted to about 15 million rubles a month, the same amount cybercriminals received as illegal income.
According to available information, the so-called crypto farms with special computing equipment were deployed at eight different sites. Among them are an abandoned building of a former poultry farm in the village of Leskolovo, Vsevolozhsk District, Leningrad Region, a recreation center building in the village of Roshchino, as well as a number of residential premises. The accomplices sent the generated cryptocurrency to exchanges located outside the Russian Federation, and then cashed it out.
“Currently, a resident of St. Petersburg has been detained on suspicion of organizing this illegal act. Nine of his alleged accomplices were brought to the police,” the Russian Interior Ministry said in a statement.
A criminal case has been initiated against the detainees on the grounds of a crime under Part 2 of Article 273 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation, which implies imprisonment for a term of three to seven years.
Source: 3dnews.ru