Hackers Steal $443,000 from VTB 24

MOSCOW.  May 3. KAZINFORM   Russian hackers defrauded clients of VTB 24, the retail arm of the country's second largest lender VTB, of $443,000 using a computer virus, Russian Prosecutor General's office spokeswoman Marina Gridneva said late on Wednesday, Kazinform refers to RIA Novosti.

Investigators found out brothers Dmitry and Evgeny Popelysh, aided and abetted by Alexander Sarbin, used the QHost computer virus to obtain access to information about the bank's clients.

"The Popelysh brothers conducted a fraud from accounts of 142 clients of VTB 24 and caused losses to them of about 13 million rubles ($443,000)," Gridneva said.

The suspects had also planned to steal 2.5 million rubles ($85,000) from 25 other accounts, she added.

The brothers have been charged with using and distributing malicious software, unauthorized access to computer data and large-scale fraud committed in an organized group. The maximum punishment they face is 10 years in prison. Sarbin has been charged with complicity in fraud.