Crime overview
Aleksi Burkov has been described as “ an asset of supreme importance” by the Moscow government. He had been involved in a criminal act of selling stolen payment cards. He also engaged in secretive crimes that were of great threat to the state. He admitted to having been operating a CardPlanet that had stolen a large number of credit card accounts. He was also the founder of the DirectConection that is an entity that guarded most of the wanted hackers against Russia (Graff, 2020). He has engaged himself in the intrusion of computers, money laundering, and fraudulent acts. The direct connection had gained popularity as a result of the cybercrime associated with it. This marketplace helped a number of hackers to hack a number of credit that they would later sell to their targeted customers.
Based on the documents presented to the court, Burkov would use a computer to hack the card through intrusions. Most of the cards that were hacked belong to the citizens of the united states. It was reported that 150, 0000 credit cards had been stolen, and their origin was from the site owned by Burkov. He would later sell these cards to citizens from other countries. Having carried out serious investigations, it was established that he had connections with other experienced hackers. Through the help he received from them, he was able to grow his site. Before one would become a member of the site, there were heavy restrictions that needed to be followed. One was fist required to give a deposit of $ 5000 and be proposed by three members from the site (“Russian National Extradited for Running Online Criminal Marketplace,” 2020). There was also a certificate that one was required to own before being allowed to log in to its website.
Use of the computer as an instrumental
Having been arrested, Burkov pleaded guilty to have engaged in computer intrusion. His main reason for engaging in hacking was to retrieve information on the credit card of the US citizens, and with the knowledge he had on the computer, he was able to get the information he needed. Through the computer, he would engage in fraud where he would access the data from the credit card. With the help of a computer, he created a website, as described earlier, known as “Cardplanet.” Through this system, he would sell the card that involved both the debit and credit. Most of these cards had been acquired through intrusions. He would also use his website for advertising some of the stolen items to his targeted customers. Other criminals involved in cybercrime would also advertise their products from this platform (“Russian hacker who operated ‘online criminal marketplace’ pleads guilty,” 2020). he would also share some of the techniques in hacking with his partners in crime, and this contributed towards an increase in the level of crimes. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
With the help of a computer, he would retrieve information from the cardholders, and later they would sell the information. He used the computer in his crimes, whereby he would access the information of the card owners and later store it on his website. He would use the computer to store the data he had gathered from the card, and this would later be shared with his hackers. Some transactions were carried out with the help of the computer. The payment process would also be facilitated with the help of a computer. Since there was a large number of criminals that were involved in these fraud act, they would communicate through their computer since there was a web that had been created. Through this web, they were able to share the new ideas in hacking (“Russian National Pleads Guilty to Running Online Criminal Marketplace,” 2020). Also, with the help of a computer, he was able to gather newly developed tips that they would use in hacking. This is a result of the increase in the level of cybercrime; thus, there was a need to keep changing the techniques used.
Through the help of a computer, he was also able to effectively run his online market where he would post some of the cards he had stolen. This is a technique that has been used by other hackers, whereby they are taking advantage of the online platform whereby they are marketing their products. Through the computer, he was able to develop an online platform that he used to accelerate his fraudulent acts. Through the computer, he would also engage in money laundering, whereby he would hack the accounts of others and transfer the money into his account. With the increase in this crime, the number of people affected by this act increased, and this prompted the need for investigation (“Russian hacker who operated ‘online criminal marketplace’ pleads guilty,” 2020). He would also hack devices of others through his computer, where he would later gather the information he needed. He would also develop other software that was illegal and then sell them to his partners in crime. He would also offer services to his partner, such a hacking.
According to Burkov, he used the computer as a tool to generate funds. From the case, he was accused of having stolen a large amount of money from the citizens. This is the habit of every hacker since they are always after money. Having gotten the information from the cardholders, he would later sell the data to the individuals who were in need of it, and through this, there is money that would be deposited in his account. Having pleaded guilty, it was established that he had $20 million in his account, and this as a result of the cybercrimes that he engaged in (“Russian National Extradited for Running Online Criminal Marketplace,” 2020). he would also generate funds from the recruitment that he made since his web was well developed.
Technical issues
It was alleged that Burkov was using Cardplanet and also an online platform in committing his crime. He made his business to appear legit. He would sell the card to the customers, and in case there were invalid ones, he would compensate them with new ones. This thereby protected his business for a period of time before being arrested. He would also offer special services referred to as checkers at a very subsidized fee, and this would attract more hackers (“Russian National Pleads Guilty to Running Online Criminal Marketplace,” 2020). Before one would be enrolled in the group, one was required to go through a vetting process from the members who had already been enrolled.
There was also a problem that was experienced by the banks in the US since some of the customers had been hacked. There were also cases of money laundering that had been reported since a lot of money had been lost through the cybercrime activities. Most of the citizens from the US were the major victims since their accounts had been interfered with. The department of justice also reported cases of money lost since the number of criminals had increased (Graff, 2020). a large number of the card had also been tampered with, and this is a result of the cybercrime activities.
The fraud was also another issue being experienced whereby through a computer, Burkov was able to engage in fraud acts. He would hack the card and gather the information he needed. There was also identity theft, and this was on the rise since, with the help of a computer, he was able to detect the confidential information of the cardholders. There are also the issue of information war whereby after hacking information from the card, the information would later be sold. This resulted in a war between the Russian government and the United States (“Russian hacker who operated ‘online criminal marketplace’ pleads guilty,” 2020). The computer networks were also hacked since most of the criminals interfere with the network before hacking the computer systems. As a result of the increase in the level of cybercrimes, this contributed to the loss of information since the hackers were interfering with the information already under the bank. Some transactions were not right that was being carried out by the criminals. Also, private information that was held by the cardholders was mishandled, and this interfered with the security of the citizens.
The arrest of Aleksei Burkov
With the increase in the level of cybercrime and plead from the US government that was being accelerated by Burkov, he was arrested while in the airport while he had gone to visit Israel. This was also after the government from Russia had protected him from being arrested by the US government. However, the Israel government went ahead and arrested him since the hacking incidences had increased. Also, cases of identity theft had increased, and this was considered a great threat to the state. Private information held by the cardholders was also shared with the public, and this is after the information was traded on the online platform. During his arrest, there was an increasing trend whereby the hackers from Russia were being arrested, mainly those who were travelling abroad. This was a result of the persuasion from the department of Justice from the US that was requesting the hackers to be arrested. This is after they interfered with the 2016 elections. Failure to arrest these hackers would result in huge consequences, and there was the need for ensuring that the network systems are well protected (“Russian Cybercrime Boss Burkov Pleads Guilty — Krebs on Security,” 2020). As a result of this massive arrest, there was a decline in the level of cybercrimes since some of the most wanted criminals were arrested.
Despite the Russian government protecting Burkov from being charged by the US government, some allegations were under him that resulted in his conviction. This is after it was established that Burkov had been operating a website that was helping other criminal in conducting fraud. It was identified that $20 million cards had been interfered with, and this resulted in a huge loss of money. He was also found to be recruiting more criminals to operate under his website, and this was considered that contributed to an increase in the level of criminal activities (Graff, 2020). Also, with the help of this platform, the criminals were able to advance the level of their fraud acts, and this was greatly affecting the citizens of the US. Also, having been investigated, Burkov admitted that through his platform, he was helping the criminals who were only interested in engaging in fraudulent acts. Through this platform, the criminals would market the data they had stolen.
Another charge that Burkov faced is accelerating cybercrime that is an act considered to be a great threat to the state since this results in loss of very important information. Also, the US government was highly committed to ending cybercrime, and as a result of this, Burkov was arrested since he was a victim. He was also acting against the law since it was required that private of the information of the citizens should not be shared. However, in the case of Burkov, he went ahead to encourage this act of cybercrime since where he would encourage criminals to join his website (“Russian hacker who operated ‘online criminal marketplace’ pleads guilty,” 2020). The website was also against the rules set by the internet since it was facilitating the sale of illegal information to the citizens.
Having pleaded that he was running an illegal website that was facilitating the sale of cards obtained through fraud, this resulted in the prosecution of Burkov. He pleaded to have been accessing citizens’ devices without their consent, and through this, they would obtain the critical information that would help them to engage in fraud. Also, through the website, he would engage in illegal purchases since the criminal who had stolen information from the cardholder, they would later look for customers from this platform. He also pleaded that he was operating another website where he would advertise personal information, illegal software, and other services that were being provided by his partners in crime. He was also prosecuted for interfering with the financial institution since a lot of money had been lost through fraudulent. This was thereby affecting the economy of the US since a lot of money was being lost instead of the money being used in productive activities. Also, by exposing private information to the public, this was considered as a great threat to the citizens of the US (“Russian Cybercrime Boss Burkov Pleads Guilty — Krebs on Security,” 2020) . his contribution towards cybercrime also resulted to his arrest since there was a number of hackers who were operating under him. Having pleaded guilty after these charges, he was sentenced for fifteen years in prison, among other hackers who were operating under him.
The legal outcome of the case
The issue of cybercrime had become a major concern to the government of the US, and this there was a need to end this problem. This was considered a great threat to the state, and failure to end it would result in a financial crisis. After the case was ruled, it was revealed that Burkov was guilty, and as a result of this, he was sentenced to prison. This was a decision that was considered to be relevant since it served as a learning lesson to the other hacker. There was also punishment accompanied by the fifteen years in prison, and this was to act as a warning to the hackers who had not been arrested. Through this verdict, this ensured that some of the illegal websites that were being operated by hackers had been eliminated since this result to their arrest (“Russian Cybercrime Boss Burkov Pleads Guilty — Krebs on Security,” 2020). This also ensured that there was no sale of information, thereby protecting the confidentiality of the car holders. This also protected the future of the states since the hackers were discouraged from engaging in cybercrime.
References
Graff, G. (2020). Russia Fails to Stop Alleged Hacker From Facing US Charges. Retrieved 11 February 2020, from https://www.wired.com/story/aleksei-burkov-russia-hacking-extradition/
Russian Cybercrime Boss Burkov Pleads Guilty — Krebs on Security. (2020). Retrieved 11 February 2020, from https://krebsonsecurity.com/2020/01/russian-cybercrime-boss-burkov-pleads-guilty/
Russian hacker who operated ‘online criminal marketplace’ pleads guilty. (2020). Retrieved 11 February 2020, from https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/russian-hacker-who-operated-online-criminal-marketplace-pleads-guilty-n1121836
Russian National Pleads Guilty to Running Online Criminal Marketplace. (2020). Retrieved 11 February 2020, from https://www.justice.gov/usao-edva/pr/russian-national-pleads-guilty-running-online-criminal-marketplace