US places $15 million bounty on operators of LockBit ransomware

 

WASHINGTON – The Department of State has placed a bounty of $15 million on information leading to the arrest and/or conviction of  those involved in LockBit ransomware variant attack and for information leading to the identification and/or location of any key leaders of the LockBit ransomware group. 

In a statement, the department said since January 2020, LockBit actors have executed over 2,000 attacks against victims in the United States, and around the world, causing costly disruptions to operations and the destruction or exfiltration of sensitive information.  

“More than $144 million in ransom payments have been made to recover from LockBit ransomware events”, the department said.

The department noted that the reward offer complements announcements by the Department of Justice  and the Federal Bureau of Investigation  with the United Kingdom’s National Crime Agency, along with other international partners, of a coordinated series of law enforcement actions that will disrupt the LockBit ransomware criminal organisation.

“To further strengthen our fight against malicious cyber actors, the United States also designated two individuals involved in LockBit pursuant to Executive Order 13694 . 

“We will continue to stand with our partners to disrupt ransomware actors that threaten our economies and critical infrastructure”, the Department said.