Eastern District of New York Attorney Breon Peace (R) speaks during a press conference about the extradition of Colombian drug lord Dairo Antonio Usuga, aka Otoniel, in New York City on May 5, 2022. (Photo by KENA BETANCUR/AFP via Getty Images) U.S. recovers millions from infamous ‘3ve’ advertising scam group It's the Eastern District of New York's biggest recovery from a cybercrime to date. May 18, 2022 By Tonya Riley
Aleksandr Zhukov, as pictured in an evidentiary photo from the U.S. Department of Justice. Aleksandr Zhukov, self-described ‘king of fraud,’ is sentenced to 10 years The sentence caps a years-long investigation into the fraud scheme known as 3ve or Methbot. Nov 10, 2021 By Jeff Stone
Getty As Methbot trial gets underway, prosecutors say a former scammer will testify against alleged ringleader Aleksandr Zhukov has consistently denied involvment since his arrest in Bulgaria. May 6, 2021 By Jeff Stone
The Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn, NY (Bureau of Prisons). Lawyer for alleged Methbot scammer refuses to visit jail over coronavirus concerns It's the kind of issue that could further delay a trial that's already nearly two years in the making. Oct 16, 2020 By Jeff Stone
Some 28% of traffic that appeared to be from connected TVs that month was fraudulent, the company said. (Getty Images) Scammers are masquerading as smart TV owners to fleece advertisers, researchers say White Ops on Thursday disclosed a vast, ongoing scheme in which fraudsters are charging advertising companies for ad space on smart TVs. Apr 16, 2020 By Jeff Stone
Zhukov is being held in a prison where there are 14 cases of COVID-19. (Getty Images) Lawyer for alleged Methbot boss Aleksandr Zhukov wants case dismissed amid coronavirus concerns The request comes after a federal judge ordered thhe release of another defendant from the same facility. Apr 9, 2020 By Jeff Stone
(Getty Images) Another Methbot suspect, Sergey Denisoff, arrested more than a year after initial charges The arrest is the latest evidence the feds' investigation into the Methbot scam is ongoing. Jan 22, 2020 By Jeff Stone
(FBI) Two Methbot suspects set to plead guilty as alleged ringleader maintains his innocence The men are two of the three who were extradited to the U.S. within the last year. Sep 20, 2019 By Jeff Stone
(FBI) The FBI is diving deeper into the Methbot ad fraud case And now we know the group called itself "Metan," the Russian word for methane. Aug 6, 2019 By Jeff Stone
(Getty) FBI investigators describe Methbot investigation as ‘beautiful concert of things shutting down’ Maybe the only thing more complicated than the Methbot advertising fraud scheme was the plan that ultimately shut it all down. Jul 24, 2019 By Jeff Stone