A 22-year-old British national was arrested at Palma Airport on suspicion of being the ringleader of a sophisticated hacking group that targeted 45 companies and individuals in the United States. This arrest was the result of a coordinated effort between Spanish police and the FBI.
The suspect, whose identity has not been disclosed, is believed to have led an organized group specializing in the theft of sensitive information and cryptocurrencies. Through elaborate phishing techniques, the group allegedly obtained access credentials from individuals, which were then used to infiltrate corporate systems. Once inside, they seized sensitive information and took control of victims' cryptocurrency wallets.
The investigation revealed that the group managed to gain control of 391 bitcoins, valued at over $27 million. According to Palma police, the suspect “controlled” these bitcoins at one point.
The FBI in Los Angeles first raised the alarm after several companies reported being hacked. This led to a joint investigation with Spanish authorities, who tracked the suspect's movements. It was determined that he had entered Spain via Barcelona at the end of May, eventually leading authorities to his location in Mallorca.
A judge in Los Angeles issued a warrant for the suspect's arrest, which was executed by Palma police detectives as he was preparing to board a flight to Italy. During the arrest, police confiscated a laptop and a mobile phone.
According to a post from the VX-Underground malware-sharing collective, the suspect, known online under the alias “Tyler,” is allegedly linked to the Scattered Spider cybercrime group and is believed to be a key player in the MGM ransomware attack.