Russian cybercrime gang Evil Corp defrauds Britons of millions

The National Crime Agency (NCA) recently unveiled an extraordinary photo of Russian criminal Maksim Yakubets with his family yesterday. They lead the notorious cybercrime group, Evil Corp.

For the first time, the NCA, Britain’s equivalent of the FBI, disclosed the gang is led by Maksim, his money-laundering father Viktor, brother Artem, cousins Kirill and Dmitry Slobodskoy, and father-in-law Eduard Benderskiy, a former senior official in the Russian intelligence service, the FSB.

The origins of Evil Corp

For over a decade, the multi-millionaire Maksim has allegedly targeted thousands of Britons. Stealing their life savings, Maksim hacks bank details and conducting espionage missions for the Russian state against NATO countries.

Maksim, described as untouchable in Moscow, often films himself performing doughnuts around local police in his Ferrari or customised Lamborghini with a personalised number plate meaning “Thief” in Russian.

The 37-year-old, who has worked for the FSB, reportedly lives extravagantly. He spends money on supercars, tiger and lion cubs, and over £250,000 on his wedding. In 2019, the US State Department placed a £3.8 million bounty on his head, the largest ever for a cybercriminal.

The NCA is now expanding its efforts, naming friends and family who have made millions by intercepting bank transfers from the public, businesses, schools, and religious organisations.

Investigators have found photos of the Yakubets family at lavish events and on holidays. Maksim allegedly started the operation in 2007 from Moscow cafes. Employing dozens to scam victims in 43 countries, the organisation uses viruses designed not to target Russians.

The family business established ties with Russian intelligence services, including the FSB, SVR, and GRU, through his father-in-law. Benderskiy worked for the FSB’s covert ‘Vympel’ unit, which is closely linked to the Kremlin.

International sanctions

Yesterday, 16 members of Evil Corp were sanctioned in the UK, US, and Australia, with investigators revealing the group has extorted at least £225 million globally. Insiders believe capturing Maksim remains unlikely.

Foreign Secretary David Lammy stated: “I am making it my mission to target the Kremlin with the full arsenal of sanctions at our disposal. Putin has constructed a corrupt mafia state, and we must combat this at every turn.”

“Today’s action is just the beginning. Today’s sanctions send a clear message to the Kremlin that we will not tolerate Russian cyberattacks, whether from the state or its cyber-criminal ecosystem.”