Sales of stolen credit card data, malicious software for various hacker attacks, such as ransomware, information systems penetration, and database theft. Sergei Gusev, 43, a Russian citizen who became Portuguese and a resident of Gaia, is suspected of such illegal activities and has been arrested by the Porto Administrative Court. A joint investigation by the FBI and Criminal Police found that he sold credit card details to thousands of people, most of them Portuguese.
A source connected to the trial said that the actions were reported by the FBI, according to which the suspect administered a forum called Verified Forum (VF), which also had access to both the Visible Network and the Darknet, which can be accessed through the TOR browser, usually used by criminals. The forum was used to post stolen data, which was then used for fraudulent activities. An FBI agent accompanied searches conducted in May by the Criminal Police at the suspect's home.
He had a password
The information provided by the FBI states that since June 2019, all messages posted by the profile under the name VBKREZ relate to financial transactions through VF, including in cryptocurrency.
Later, an analysis of the suspect's computer showed that he had a password to the profile where he edited publications about the forum, for example, concerning charging 5% for a service guarantee, especially in resolving disputes between users. Access was made from Portugal.
During searches at the place of residence, the Criminal Police found Sergey working at a computer, in which the forum site was open on the desktop. By chance, he opened a window with thousands of transfers related to the forum, with paid user fees, the amount of each operation, and administrators. Which suggests that the suspect was aware of ongoing transactions inside the forum, which he denied during the first court interview on May 19.
Sergey Gusev is suspected of information sabotage, illegal access, acquisition of cards and other means of payment obtained by criminal means, creation of a criminal community and money laundering. Justifying the preliminary arrest of the suspect, the judge expressed the risk of fleeing and obstructing the investigation.
