Zdorovenin, along with his son Krill, are accused of using malicious software to collect credit card numbers, identity information, and financial account details of victims at various times between 2004 and 2005. The nine-count indictment accuses the two of conspiracy, mail fraud, wire fraud, computer fraud, aggravated identity theft, and securities fraud, according to a press release by the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York and the FBI.
The indictment alleges that the Zdorovenins “stole victims’ personal identification information, including credit card numbers, through the use of computer programs that were surreptitiously installed on victims’ computers and that recorded the information as it was entered”, the release said.
Manhattan US Attorney Preet Bharara said the pair “engaged in serial cyber crimes in Russia that targeted Americans and wrought havoc with their personal and financial information, using it to make phony purchases and to manipulate stock prices.”
Added FBI assistant director in charge, Janice K. Fedarcyk: “Mr. Zdorovenin’s egregious behavior illustrated the true colors of the cyber underground, as he and his son allegedly defrauded consumers of hundreds of thousands of dollars using methods that included compromised credit cards, all fronted through fictitious companies they had created. In addition, Zdorovenin allegedly installed malware to access victims’ brokerage accounts, trading victims’ securities and manipulating the price of stocks Zdorovenin already owned.”
While Vladimir was apprehended by Swiss authorities and extradited to the US, his son remains at large. The father faces a maximum sentence of 142 years in prison.