Israeli investigator admits to fraud and hacking conspiracy
Azari accused of working with hackers who breached email
An Israeli private investigator pleaded guilty in a probe of a vast hacking-for-hire ring that allegedly targeted hedge funds, short sellers, journalists and advocacy groups fighting climate change.
Aviram Azari entered his plea Wednesday in federal court in Manhattan to three counts of fraud and conspiracy to commit computer hacking. Azari, 50, was accused of working with hackers who targeted potential victims with phishing emails. He acknowledged hiring them on behalf of his clients.
In June 2020, Bloomberg reported that U.S. authorities were investigating a vast hacking-for-hire operation that involved attempts to pilfer confidential communications from a variety of targets.
While it wasn’t clear who was writing the checks to pay for the hacking, the beneficiaries included specific industries and major companies, such as the German technology firm Wirecard AG, according to cybersecurity researchers and the Toronto-based research group Citizen Lab. Azari’s indictment was part of the larger investigation.
On Wednesday, when asked if one of Azari’s client’s was an executive for the now defunct Wirecard AG, Azari’s lawyer, Barry S. Zone, said, “Yes.” Zone said the government was aware of the identities of many of Azari’s clients.
Azari, who was arrested in 2019, is scheduled to be sentenced July 21. He is facing a maximum of 27 years in prison.
While pleading guilty, Azari told the court that he ran an intelligence firm in Israel that provided hacking services among its offerings. He said his firm contracted with a company in India that provided specialized hacking services. Azari said that he was paid by his clients, and he then compensated the Indian company for the hacking services.
“Clients of Mr. Azari paid substantial sums for those services,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Olga Zverovich.
Comments