Known Cybersecurity Expert and Owner of Florida Ransomware Remediation Company Charged with Defrauding Clients

Zohar Pinhasi, 50, also known as “Zack Silver” and “Zack Green,” a U.S. and Israeli national, was arraigned today in the Eastern District of New York on wire fraud charges relating to Pinhasi’s false representations that he could decrypt ransomware without paying cybercriminals. Pinhasi claimed to prospective clients that his company, MonsterCloud, offered a principled alternative to paying off ransomware attackers.

“The defendant is charged with offering an alternative to ransom payments, but instead is alleged to have victimized the victim again and committed additional fraud, harming the victim again,” said Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department’s Criminal Division. “This prosecution underscores the Department’s commitment to protecting ransomware victims, regardless of how these cyber ransoms occur.”

“As alleged in the indictment, by falsely claiming to decrypt ransomware without paying off the ransomers, the defendant re-victimized his clients while extracting a hefty profit for himself,” said U.S. Attorney Joseph Nocella, Jr. for the Eastern District of New York. “Our Office will vigorously prosecute ransomware attackers who prey on Americans from across the world and those who cynically profit from their criminal activity.”

“As alleged, Zohar Pinhasi claimed to fix ransomware while never remediating the underlying threat. Instead, he turned the victim's crisis into his own profit center,” said Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr. of the FBI. “This deception is unacceptable, and the FBI is committed to ensuring accountability for those who choose to victimize the very people who trusted them for help.”