Russian hacker wanted by FBI for 'using ransomware to fleece millions of dollars' is unmasked | Daily Mail Online
EXCLUSIVE: REvil 'super-hacker' wanted by FBI for 'using ransomware to fleece millions of dollars' from Americans is unmasked by DailyMail.com in his plush hideout in Siberia as Kremlin turns blind eye
DailyMail.com tracked suspected super-hacker Yeveniy Polyanin, 28, to a $380,000 home in the Siberian city of Barnaul, where his wife, Sofia, openly runs a social media baking business
Polyanin was seen in Barnaul driving a $74,000 Toyota Land Cruiser and owns a BMS worth up to $108,000
He is wanted by the FBI for his involvement in ransomware attacks and money laundering activities
He is alleged to be an affiliate of the REvil/Sodinokibi gang and the FBI has reportedly seized from him $6.1 million in ill-gotten funds, while a reward of up to $5 million was offered for information leading to his arrest
Russian records shows that in 2019, Polyanin was registered as an 'individual entrepreneur' involved in the 'development of computer software' and IT 'consulting'
The country has a bar on extraditing its own citizens, which means he could only face court in Russia
By WILL STEWART FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 18:14, 28 November 2021 | UPDATED: 13:02, 29 November 2021
e-mail
421
shares
213
View comments
One of the FBI’s most wanted men linked to ransomware gang REvil is living freely in a Siberian city with no sign the Russian authorities are acting to detain him.
DailyMail.com tracked suspected super-hacker Yevgeniy Polyanin, 28, to a chic $380,000 (USD) home in Barnaul where he was seen driving his $74,000 Toyota Land Cruiser 200, evidently feeling untouchable.
His wife Sofia, 28, openly runs an upscale social media baking business - including racy hen party cupcakes decorated with male genitalia - while he is accused by the US authorities of extorting millions of dollars from American businesses.
Read More
The pair enjoy a luxury lifestyle, with helicopter rides to the nearby scenic Altai Mountains.
A second car in the suspected cybercriminal’s garage is a BMW, worth up to $108,000.
Polyanin was this month accused by the FBI of 'involvement in ransomware attacks and money laundering activities.'
He is alleged to be an affiliate of the REvil/Sodinokibi gang and the FBI claim to have seized from him $6.1 million in ill-gotten funds, while a reward of up to $5 million was offered for information leading to his arrest.
He is also seen as a key 'test case' of President Joe Biden’s demand that Vladimir Putin should cooperate with him in cracking down on suspected cybercriminals.
Yet there seems little prospect of this since Polyanin’s relatives and neighbors stress they have had no contacts over the FBI allegations from the Russian FSB counter-intelligence service or police.
Russia has been accused by the West of turning a blind eye to hackers targeting the US and Europe from its territory. DailyMail.com has reached out to the FBI to determine what will happen to the suspect now that he has been found.
Yevgeniy Polyanin +17
The FBI picture of Polyanin holding a microprocessor is from a laboratory at Altai State University +17
Yevgeniy Polyanin, one of the FBI’s most wanted men linked to ransomware gang REvil, is living freely in a Siberian city with no sign the Russian authorities are acting to detain him. Right is an FBI picture of Polyanin holding a microprocessor is from a laboratory at Altai State University
Polyanin was spotted by a DailyMail reporter entering his $74,000 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in Barnaul, Siberia +17
Polyanin was spotted by a DailyMail reporter entering his $74,000 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in Barnaul, Siberia
MORE VIDEOS
123
Watch videoVaccine sceptic GP exposes sexual 'private' WhatsApp message
Watch videoProfessor Hunter concerned over Omicron variant 'spreading quickly'
Watch video'We owe it to him' - Kit Malthouse on Arthur Labinjo-Hughes case
Watch videoBetter.com CEO Vishal Garg fires 900 employees over zoom call
Watch videoPolice officer finds enormous knife hidden down youth's trousers
Watch videoGhislaine Maxwell's siblings arrive at court for latest trial day
Watch videoBoris Johnson: The government is 'ramping up' against county lines
Watch video'We're still waiting' - Boris Johnson on Omicron variant dangers
Watch videoShocking video of bouncer punching and kicking customer to the ground
Watch videoVigil held for Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside his home in Solihull
Watch videoLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer receives his Covid booster vaccination
Watch videoJosh Duggar arrives for second week of child pornography trial
Polyanin seemed uncomfortable as he entered the car, as questions mounted about his whereabouts +17
Polyanin seemed uncomfortable as he entered the car, as questions mounted about his whereabouts
He is living in a chic to a chic $380,000 home in Barnaul as he remains on the FBI's Most Wanted list +17
He is living in a chic to a chic $380,000 home in Barnaul as he remains on the FBI's Most Wanted list
Polyanin and his wife have spent recent days dodging reporters and cutting phone calls while living at his gated home, 'elite' residential complex Nevsky in Russia’s mountainous Altai region, where his curtains remained almost permanently closed.
He made clear he did not want to speak while privately assuring his pensioner mother Svetlana Polyanina, 58, who lives in the same city, that the FBI’s allegations were 'fake.'
She had been initially deeply worried over the US claims, she said, and told a reporter she could not locate her son after the mega-hacking charges first appeared.
She said: 'I am very worried, wouldn't you be worried?
'I will not tell you anything about his job.'
She added: 'I have been taking pills since this came out….
'I have already lost four kilograms in three days.'
While denying he was a programmer, she confessed alluding to some coverage of the FBI charges in the Russian media: 'I don't know whether it is true or not what they say in the newspapers.'
Polyanna said she could not locate her son, adding: 'Maybe he is with the police now.'
And she added without further explanation: 'Start with Putin, everything will become clear immediately.'
But when he finally contacted her six days after the allegations emerged, his mother said: 'Do not disturb us please.
'We are all fine.
'He got in touch, everything is fine.
DailyMail.com tracked suspected super-hacker Yeveniy Polyanin, 28, to a $380,000 home in the Siberian city of Barnaul, where his wife, Sofia, openly runs a social media baking business
Polyanin was seen in Barnaul driving a $74,000 Toyota Land Cruiser and owns a BMS worth up to $108,000
He is wanted by the FBI for his involvement in ransomware attacks and money laundering activities
He is alleged to be an affiliate of the REvil/Sodinokibi gang and the FBI has reportedly seized from him $6.1 million in ill-gotten funds, while a reward of up to $5 million was offered for information leading to his arrest
Russian records shows that in 2019, Polyanin was registered as an 'individual entrepreneur' involved in the 'development of computer software' and IT 'consulting'
The country has a bar on extraditing its own citizens, which means he could only face court in Russia
By WILL STEWART FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 18:14, 28 November 2021 | UPDATED: 13:02, 29 November 2021
421
shares
213
View comments
One of the FBI’s most wanted men linked to ransomware gang REvil is living freely in a Siberian city with no sign the Russian authorities are acting to detain him.
DailyMail.com tracked suspected super-hacker Yevgeniy Polyanin, 28, to a chic $380,000 (USD) home in Barnaul where he was seen driving his $74,000 Toyota Land Cruiser 200, evidently feeling untouchable.
His wife Sofia, 28, openly runs an upscale social media baking business - including racy hen party cupcakes decorated with male genitalia - while he is accused by the US authorities of extorting millions of dollars from American businesses.
Read More
The pair enjoy a luxury lifestyle, with helicopter rides to the nearby scenic Altai Mountains.
A second car in the suspected cybercriminal’s garage is a BMW, worth up to $108,000.
Polyanin was this month accused by the FBI of 'involvement in ransomware attacks and money laundering activities.'
He is alleged to be an affiliate of the REvil/Sodinokibi gang and the FBI claim to have seized from him $6.1 million in ill-gotten funds, while a reward of up to $5 million was offered for information leading to his arrest.
He is also seen as a key 'test case' of President Joe Biden’s demand that Vladimir Putin should cooperate with him in cracking down on suspected cybercriminals.
Yet there seems little prospect of this since Polyanin’s relatives and neighbors stress they have had no contacts over the FBI allegations from the Russian FSB counter-intelligence service or police.
Russia has been accused by the West of turning a blind eye to hackers targeting the US and Europe from its territory. DailyMail.com has reached out to the FBI to determine what will happen to the suspect now that he has been found.
Yevgeniy Polyanin +17
The FBI picture of Polyanin holding a microprocessor is from a laboratory at Altai State University +17
Yevgeniy Polyanin, one of the FBI’s most wanted men linked to ransomware gang REvil, is living freely in a Siberian city with no sign the Russian authorities are acting to detain him. Right is an FBI picture of Polyanin holding a microprocessor is from a laboratory at Altai State University
Polyanin was spotted by a DailyMail reporter entering his $74,000 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in Barnaul, Siberia +17
Polyanin was spotted by a DailyMail reporter entering his $74,000 Toyota Land Cruiser 200 in Barnaul, Siberia
MORE VIDEOS
123
Watch videoVaccine sceptic GP exposes sexual 'private' WhatsApp message
Watch videoProfessor Hunter concerned over Omicron variant 'spreading quickly'
Watch video'We owe it to him' - Kit Malthouse on Arthur Labinjo-Hughes case
Watch videoBetter.com CEO Vishal Garg fires 900 employees over zoom call
Watch videoPolice officer finds enormous knife hidden down youth's trousers
Watch videoGhislaine Maxwell's siblings arrive at court for latest trial day
Watch videoBoris Johnson: The government is 'ramping up' against county lines
Watch video'We're still waiting' - Boris Johnson on Omicron variant dangers
Watch videoShocking video of bouncer punching and kicking customer to the ground
Watch videoVigil held for Arthur Labinjo-Hughes outside his home in Solihull
Watch videoLabour leader Sir Keir Starmer receives his Covid booster vaccination
Watch videoJosh Duggar arrives for second week of child pornography trial
Polyanin seemed uncomfortable as he entered the car, as questions mounted about his whereabouts +17
Polyanin seemed uncomfortable as he entered the car, as questions mounted about his whereabouts
He is living in a chic to a chic $380,000 home in Barnaul as he remains on the FBI's Most Wanted list +17
He is living in a chic to a chic $380,000 home in Barnaul as he remains on the FBI's Most Wanted list
Polyanin and his wife have spent recent days dodging reporters and cutting phone calls while living at his gated home, 'elite' residential complex Nevsky in Russia’s mountainous Altai region, where his curtains remained almost permanently closed.
He made clear he did not want to speak while privately assuring his pensioner mother Svetlana Polyanina, 58, who lives in the same city, that the FBI’s allegations were 'fake.'
She had been initially deeply worried over the US claims, she said, and told a reporter she could not locate her son after the mega-hacking charges first appeared.
She said: 'I am very worried, wouldn't you be worried?
'I will not tell you anything about his job.'
She added: 'I have been taking pills since this came out….
'I have already lost four kilograms in three days.'
While denying he was a programmer, she confessed alluding to some coverage of the FBI charges in the Russian media: 'I don't know whether it is true or not what they say in the newspapers.'
Polyanna said she could not locate her son, adding: 'Maybe he is with the police now.'
And she added without further explanation: 'Start with Putin, everything will become clear immediately.'
But when he finally contacted her six days after the allegations emerged, his mother said: 'Do not disturb us please.
'We are all fine.
'He got in touch, everything is fine.
