Anton P. Bogdanov, Cyber Tax Fraud Scheme, New York 2020
Cyber Tax Fraud Scheme Rocks New York
In a stunning display of cybercrime, Anton P. Bogdanov, a 36-year-old Russian citizen, has been sentenced to 60 months in prison for his role in a massive cyber tax fraud scheme. Bogdanov, who used the online moniker "Kusok," hacked into private tax preparation firms, stole personal information, and used that information to file federal tax returns and fraudulently attempt to obtain more than $1.5 million in tax refunds from the Department of the Treasury.
According to court documents, between June 2014 and November 2016, Bogdanov and his co-conspirators misappropriated personally identifiable information (PII), such as Social Security numbers and dates of birth, by gaining unauthorized access to the computer systems of private tax preparation firms in the United States. They then changed the tax return information so that the refunds were paid to prepaid debit cards that they controlled.
The scheme, which was uncovered by the FBI and the IRS, netted Bogdanov and his co-conspirators a staggering $1.5 million in tax refunds. However, they were not able to cash out the entire amount, as a significant portion was wired to Bogdanov in Russia.
Bogdanov was arrested in Bangkok, Thailand in November 2018, and extradited to the United States in March 2019. He pleaded guilty in January 2020 to wire fraud conspiracy and computer intrusions. The court also ordered Bogdanov to pay $476,713 in forfeiture.
Mark J. Lesko, Acting United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, praised the work of the FBI and the IRS in bringing the case to justice. "Bogdanov hacked into tax preparation firms and used illegally obtained private information from innocent victims to try to steal their federal income tax refunds for his own use," Lesko stated. "Today's sentence underscores the commitment of this Office to protecting the integrity of private tax return information and holding corrupt hackers like the defendant accountable for his crimes."
The case is being handled by the Office's National Security and Cybercrime Section, with Assistant United States Attorney Jonathan E. Algor leading the prosecution.
The Justice Department's Office of International Affairs, the FBI's Legal Attaché abroad, and foreign authorities provided critical assistance in the case. The Office extends its appreciation to the Royal Thai Police, particularly the Crime Suppression Division, and the FBI's Legal Attaché Bangkok for their assistance in apprehending the defendant.
Mandatory Facts:
- Defendant: Anton P. Bogdanov
- Criminal Charges: Wire fraud conspiracy and computer intrusions
- City and State: Brooklyn, New York
- Exact Date: January 2020 (sentencing date)
- Sentence: 60 months in prison
- Dollar Amount: $476,713 in forfeiture
- Dollar Amount: $1.5 million in tax refunds
Key Facts
- State: New York
- Category: Cybercrime
- Source: DOJ Press Release â†â€â€
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