The U.S. government has announced a bounty of up to $15 million for information that could lead to the identification, arrest, or conviction of individuals associated with the notorious LockBit ransomware group.
This announcement comes as part of a broader crackdown on Lockbit operations that have caused extensive damage to numerous organizations worldwide.
The international law enforcement agencies, including Europol and the U.K.’s National Crime Agency has seized LockBit’s dark website, replacing it with a notice of control by authorities.
This operation, known as “Operation Cronos,” involved the FBI and other law enforcement organizations from Australia, Japan, and Europe.
The U.S. Department of State’s Rewards for Justice program is offering the bounty, which includes $10 million for information on key leaders of the LockBit group and an additional $5 million for information leading to the arrest or conviction of anyone conspiring or attempting to participate in LockBit’s ransomware attacks.
LockBit has been one of the most active groups, with its ransomware variant targeting over 2,000 victims and receiving more than $120 million in ransom payments.
LockBit’s operators are believed to be based in Russia, complicating efforts for arrest due to geopolitical tensions.
The U.S. government’s substantial reward offer underscores the seriousness with which it is pursuing these cyber criminals.
By incentivizing information that could lead to the dismantling of LockBit, authorities aim to disrupt the ransomware ecosystem and prevent future attacks.
