DigitalMint Aids Law Enforcement in Probe of Former Employee's Alleged Ransomware Profiteering
DigitalMint, a leading provider of ransomware incident response services, is assisting law enforcement in an investigation involving a former employee. The individual is suspected of profiting from extortion payments made during ransomware attacks while working at the company.
DigitalMint President Marc Jason Grens has confirmed the company's cooperation with the ongoing criminal investigation. The probe centers around a former employee who is alleged to have struck deals with hackers, enabling them to profit from ransom payments. These payments can run into tens of millions of dollars per incident, contributing to global losses that total billions annually.
The employee was swiftly terminated upon discovery of the allegations. It is important to note that DigitalMint itself is not the target of the investigation. The company, founded in 2014 and operating under the name Red Leaf Chicago, LLC, has handled over 2,000 ransomware incidents since 2017.
The U.S. Justice Department is examining the allegations, which echo concerns raised in a 2019 ProPublica report. The report highlighted practices at two other US firms that helped ransomware victims, suggesting they often paid hackers while charging clients extra. The identity of the former DigitalMint employee suspected of colluding with hackers and benefiting from ransom payments remains undisclosed.
The investigation into the former DigitalMint employee's alleged actions is ongoing. Meanwhile, some law and insurance firms have advised clients to exercise caution when considering DigitalMint's services. DigitalMint continues to cooperate with law enforcement, emphasizing its commitment to ethical business practices and the integrity of its services.
