Man
Professional
- Messages
- 3,218
- Reaction score
- 783
- Points
- 113
The analysis is based on FBI, SecureWorks, and court documents. The material is intended to study cybercriminal tactics and defense methods.
Features of the group:
HR checks are important – even hackers look for jobs on LinkedIn.
Cloud logs are gold for investigation – criminals leave traces on servers.
POS attacks remain a threat – terminals are still vulnerable.
Want an analysis of other high-profile cases ( Carbanak, Cobalt Group)? I'm ready to tell you!
All data is from open court documents and FBI reports.
1. Who are Fin7?
Fin7 (also known as Carbanak Group) is a professional cybercriminal organization that specialized in:- Stealing card data through hacking POS systems.
- Attacks on banks with the theft of millions of dollars.
- Payment fraud in the US and EU.
Features of the group:
- Worked under the guise of a legitimate IT company ("Bastion Secure").
- Used a corporate structure with an HR department and KPIs for hackers.
- Targeted restaurant, hotel and retail chains (Chipotle, Saks Fifth Avenue).
2. Fin7 Technical Methods
Tools and Tactics
Method | How did it work? | Example |
---|---|---|
Phishing 2.0 | Emails with malicious Word documents | "Invoice for payment from supplier.docx" |
Carbunak Backdoor | Malware for accessing banking systems | $1 Billion Theft via SWIFT Transfers |
POS attacks | Implementation into payment terminals | Hack 100+ US Restaurants (2017) |
Double extraction | Data Theft + Encryption for Extortion | Attack on Red Robin Gourmet Burgers |
Geography of operations
- Headquarters: Ukraine (presumably).
- Targets: USA, Great Britain, France, Russia.
- Cashing out: Cryptocurrencies, shell companies in the Baltics.
3. Key mistakes that led to failure
Mistake 1: LinkedIn Leak
- Group members posted resumes with real skills (e.g. "Carbanak expert").
- FBI finds matches between Bastion Secure job postings and hacking tools.
Mistake 2: Using public servers
- Some of the C&C servers were located on AWS and Google Cloud.
- Law enforcement officers obtained logs through requests to providers.
Mistake 3: Greed and Scaling
- Fin7 began attacking too many targets at once, which attracted attention.
- One of the attacks on Saks Fifth Avenue led to an investigation by the Secret Service.
4. How were Fin7 caught?
FBI Operation Dweller Tempest (2018–2020)
- Carbanak Malware Analysis → Control IPs detected.
- Resume matching → member identification via LinkedIn.
- Arrests in Spain and Ukraine (2020–2021):
- Three key members were detained (identities not disclosed).
- $1.2 million in cryptocurrency was confiscated .
5. Implications for the cybercriminal world
- Rising prices for POS exploits (due to shortage of specialists).
- Banks have stepped up monitoring of SWIFT transactions .
- Hackers have become more careful with social networks.
6. Lessons for Cybersecurity



What to read for in-depth study?
- SecureWorks "Fin7/Carbanak Analysis" Report (2022).
- Documentary film "Hacker: The Carbanak Story" (BBC).
- The book "Sandworm" (Andy Greenberg) is about Fin7's connections with other groups.
Want an analysis of other high-profile cases ( Carbanak, Cobalt Group)? I'm ready to tell you!
All data is from open court documents and FBI reports.