A 17-year-old suspected of being involved in a massive cyberattack on MGM Resorts that occurred last year has been arrested in Walsall, England.
Local authorities, together with the British National Crime Agency and the FBI, detained the suspect last week.
The teenager has been released on bail and is charged with breaching the Blackmail and Computer Misuse Act.
“Today’s arrest is a testimony to the strength of the FBI’s domestic, international, and private sector partnerships,” noted FBI Cyber Division Assistant Director Bryan Vorndran.
“This arrest has been made following a complex investigation which stretches overseas to America. We have been working closely with the National Crime Agency and FBI,” said Regional Organized Crime Unit for the West Midlands Cyber Crime Unit Manager Detective Inspector Hinesh Mehta.
“These cyber groups have targeted well known organisations with ransomware and they have successfully targeted multiple victims around the world taking from them significant amounts of money. We want to send out a clear message that we will find you. It’s simply not worth it.”
The attack, which occurred last fall, caused significant disruption at MGM properties across the country. MGM CEO Bill Hornbuckle said the incident cost the company at least $100 million and led to a series of lawsuits between the company and the Federal Trade Commission.
“The FBI, in coordination with its partners, will continue to relentlessly pursue malicious actors who target American companies, no matter where they may be located or how sophisticated their techniques are.”
“We’re proud to have assisted law enforcement in locating and arresting one of the alleged criminals responsible for the cyber attack against MGM Resorts and many others. We know first-hand the damage these criminals can do and the importance of working with law enforcement to fight back. By voluntarily shutting down our systems, refusing to pay a ransom and working with law enforcement on their investigation and response, the message to criminals was clear: it’s not worth it,” MGM Resorts said in a statement.
Last month, another Briton was arrested in Spain in connection with a cyber attack on BetMGM. This attack involved hacking players’ accounts and stealing funds.
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