Andrii Kolpakov, Computer Hacking, Washington 2018

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FIN7 Hacking Ring Member Sentenced to 7 Years

Seattle, WA – A Ukrainian national was sentenced to seven years in prison for his role in the hacking group FIN7, which compromised tens of millions of debit and credit cards.

Andrii Kolpakov, 33, who has used a number of different names, served as a high-level hacker for FIN7, which the group referred to as a ‘pen tester.’ He was arrested in Lepe, Spain, on June 28, 2018, at the request of U.S. law enforcement and was extradited to the United States on June 1, 2019.

Kolpakov pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit computer hacking. According to court documents, since at least 2015, members of FIN7 engaged in a highly sophisticated malware campaign to attack hundreds of U.S. companies, predominantly in the restaurant, gambling and hospitality industries.

FIN7 hacked into thousands of computer systems and stole millions of customer credit and debit card numbers that were then used or sold for profit. The group, also referred to as the Carbanak Group and the Navigator Group, launched waves of malicious cyberattacks on numerous businesses operating in the United States and abroad.

According to court documents, victims incurred enormous costs that, according to some estimates, exceeded $1 billion. Additional intrusions occurred abroad, including in the United Kingdom, Australia and France. Companies that have publicly disclosed hacks attributable to FIN7 include Chipotle Mexican Grill, Chili’s, Arby’s, Red Robin and Jason’s Deli.

Kolpakov was involved with FIN7 from at least April 2016 until his arrest in June 2018. He also managed other hackers tasked with breaching the security of victims’ computer systems. During the course of the scheme, Kolpakov received compensation for his participation in FIN7, which far exceeded comparable legitimate employment in Ukraine.

Acting Assistant Attorney General Nicholas L. McQuaid of the Criminal Division; Acting U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman for the Western District of Washington; and Special Agent in Charge Donald M. Voiret of the FBI’s Seattle Field Office made the announcement. Kolpakov was ordered to pay restitution in the amount of $2,500,000.