Following the restoration of previously seized domains, law enforcement authorities identified Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev as the mastermind behind LockBit operations in a recent announcement. This revelation was accompanied by official sanctions from the U.S., U.K., and Australia, along with 26 criminal charges that collectively carry a maximum sentence of 185 years imprisonment.
Furthermore, the U.S. Justice Department has offered a substantial $10 million reward for information leading to Khoroshev's capture. Despite these developments, LockBitSupp has vehemently denied the allegations, framing the situation as a peculiar contest on the group's remaining leak site.
LockBitSupp has initiated a contest on their leak site, encouraging individuals to attempt contact with Dmitry Yuryevich Khoroshev. They assert that the FBI has misidentified the individual and that Khoroshev is not associated with LockBitSupp.
The ransomware admin suggests that the alleged identification mistake may have arisen from cryptocurrency mixing with their own funds, attracting the attention of law enforcement.
The contest invites participants to reach out to Khoroshev and report back on his well-being, with a reward of $1000 offered for evidence such as videos, photos, or screenshots confirming contact. Submissions are to be made through the encrypted messaging platform Tox, using a specific Tox ID provided by LockBitSupp.
Additionally, LockBitSupp has shared multiple links to LockBit-associated file-sharing services on the dark web, presumably for individuals to archive details and submit as contest entries. They have also listed extensive personal details alleged to belong to Dmitry Khoroshev, including email addresses, a Bitcoin wallet address, passport, and tax identification numbers.
Amidst the contest announcement, LockBitSupp expressed concern for the individual mistakenly identified as them, urging Khoroshev, if alive and aware, to make contact.
This unusual move by LockBitSupp challenges the assertions made by law enforcement agencies and highlights the complex dynamics of the cyber underworld, where hackers openly taunt their pursuers.
LockBitSupp emphasized that the contest will remain active as long as the announcement is visible on the blog. They hinted at the possibility of future contests with larger rewards, urging followers to stay updated for further developments.
The announcement was uploaded and last updated on May 9, 2024, UTC, leaving the public and cybersecurity community anticipating further developments.
Recent indictments have identified Khoroshev as the mastermind behind LockBit operations since September 2019. The LockBit group is alleged to have extorted over $500 million from victims in 120 countries, with Khoroshev reportedly receiving around $100 million from his involvement in the activities.
