Moldova Arrests Man Linked to Ransomware Attacks on Dutch Companies

Moldovan authorities have arrested a 45-year-old man suspected of carrying out ransomware attacks on companies in the Netherlands in 2021. The man, whose name has not been released, is wanted internationally for cybercrime-related offenses, including blackmail and money laundering.

Police in Moldova detained the suspect last week after searching his home. During the search, they seized over 84,000 euros (around $93,000) in cash, an electronic wallet, two laptops, a mobile phone, a tablet, six bank cards, and several data storage devices.

One of the major cyberattacks the man is accused of was on the Netherlands Organization for Scientific Research (NWO). That attack reportedly caused damage worth 4.5 million euros (about $5 million).

The suspect is currently in custody as Moldovan prosecutors begin extradition procedures to send him to the Netherlands to face charges.

This arrest is part of a wider crackdown on cybercrime in Europe. In a separate case last week, Irish authorities sentenced a 43-year-old man to two years in prison for running a website that sold malware, ransomware, and stolen financial data.

Earlier in May, Polish police arrested four people accused of offering illegal DDoS-for-hire services used to disrupt websites and servers around the world.

In April, Ukrainian law enforcement broke up a criminal group that scammed Latvian citizens out of more than $145,000 through fake cryptocurrency investment schemes operated from call centers in Ukraine.