Four Vietnamese individuals are accused of hacking US networks from May 2018 to October 2021, causing over $71 million in losses for victim companies. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — Four Vietnamese individuals have been charged in the US for their alleged involvement in cyber attacks that resulted in losses exceeding US$71 million for victim companies.

The accused members, known as part of the Vietnamese cybercrime organisation “FIN9,” are said to have orchestrated sophisticated hacking schemes targeting networks throughout the US between May 2018 and October 2021.

The indicted individuals are Ta Van Tai (also recognised as “Quynh Hoa” and “Bich Thuy”), Nguyen Viet Quoc (referred to as “Tien Nguyen”), Nguyen Trang Xuyen, and Nguyen Van Truong (also known as "Chung Nguyen").

Through tactics such as phishing campaigns and supply chain attacks, the group allegedly gained unauthorised entry into the computer systems of targeted companies.

Once inside, they reportedly extracted confidential information, employee benefits, and monetary assets, resulting in significant financial repercussions.

The cybercriminals exploited their access to divert digital employee benefits, such as gift cards, to their own accounts.

In addition, they pilfered personal data and credit card information from both employees and customers of the infiltrated companies.

To conceal their identities, the defendants purportedly utilised stolen data to establish online profiles and engage in transactions, including the sale of stolen gift cards on cryptocurrency platforms.

They face charges such as conspiracy to commit fraud, extortion, and computer-related activities, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, intentional harm to a protected computer, conspiracy to engage in money laundering, aggravated identity theft, and conspiracy to perpetrate identity fraud.

The penalties for these crimes span from a maximum of five years to a mandatory 20-year prison sentence, depending on the offense. — VNS