British Man Arrested in Spain: Suspected Leader of Scattered Spider Cybercrime Group
A 22-year-old British man has been arrested in Spain, suspected of leading the notorious cybercrime group Scattered Spider. The arrest, made in Palma de Mallorca, comes after an international manhunt led by the FBI.
The suspect, known to use the alias Tyler, is alleged to have orchestrated sophisticated phishing attacks against major corporations. Scattered Spider is believed to have targeted nearly 130 organizations over the past two years, including high-profile companies like Twilio, LastPass, DoorDash, and Mailchimp. These attacks resulted in significant data breaches and financial losses.
The group's tactics involved SMS-based phishing to harvest employee credentials, allowing them to gain unauthorized access to corporate accounts. In one instance, a member identified as Noah Michael Urban was arrested in the U.S. in January 2024, accused of stealing at least $800,000 from five victims. It's suspected that the group has amassed Bitcoins worth millions, with the suspect once controlling funds worth $27 million.
Scattered Spider is part of a larger cybercriminal community known as The Com, which employs social engineering techniques to infiltrate corporate networks. The group's leader was arrested as he attempted to board a flight to Italy, putting an end to his international exploits.
The arrest of the suspected Scattered Spider leader marks a significant blow to the group's operations. Authorities continue to investigate the full extent of their activities and the impact on affected organizations and customers. The suspect will now face extradition and prosecution for his alleged role in these sophisticated cybercrimes.
