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EARLIER THIS WEEK, US authorities charged 32 people and companies with an elaborate five-year hacking and trading scheme that made them $100 million and is being called the biggest ever of its kind.
The key to the alleged plot, which reads like something from the Hollywood film The Wolf of Wall Street, was almost unbelievably simple – press releases.
Here’s how one man and his family almost pulled off “one of the most intricate and sophisticated trading rings” in American history.
Half a million dollars in 36 minutes
On the morning of 23 July 2013, Panera, an American chain of wholesome bread and soup restaurants, prepared a statement.
It was to announce the company was adjusting its earnings expectations downward for the recently begun fourth financial quarter.
A strong earnings report or other positive news can cause a company’s stock to rise, while disappointing news can make it fall.
The release was just like countless others sent by publicly traded companies to business news services, that day.
Except for one thing.
As an unsuspecting investing public awaited the announcement, US federal authorities say a group made up of computer hackers and stock traders had already seen the release in the wire service’s computer system.
Then came short selling and CFDs by nine different individuals, hedge funds and stock brokers all charged with fraud this week, all using information contained in Panera’s press release.
In those six hours, members of the alleged insider trading ring made $2.4 million on a stolen press release.
In another incredible example, the group made $511,377 in profits from short selling and CFDs on a California-based technology company.
Between the time the press release was sent to the wire service, and the time it went public, there were just 36 minutes.
The Dubovoy Group
According to a criminal indictment made public on Tuesday, the operation revolved around Arkadiy Dubovoy, a 50-year-old Ukrainian businessman who lives in the US state of Georgia.
The complaint brought by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), claims Dubovoy and his family, including 28-year-old son Igor, orchestrated the trading component of the plot.
They traded stocks in their own names, via companies they owned, and through four “straw owners” – a company director in name only, used to conceal the true owner’s identity.
The group used mainly construction companies, investment brokerages, and an advertising firm.
In one case, Dubovoy allegedly set up a trading account in the name of a Ukrainian ice-cream company manager.
The Hackers
The hacking component of the operation was allegedly run by two young Ukrainians working from Kiev – Oleksander Ieremenko (23) and Ivan Turchynov (27).
According to the charges, they used proxy servers and multiple online aliases to hide their intrusions into the networks of financial wire services.
They also posed as employees and customers of the news wires, and used phishing attacks (tricking actual employees into clicking links and revealing account passwords).
The hackers, led by the Ukrainian duo, even bragged about their ability to steal the non-public press releases, emailing video demonstrations to traders, in order to recruit them and persuade them to pay for the information.
The hackers would then distribute embargoed press releases among around two dozen trading companies in the US, Ukraine, Russia, France, Malta, Cyprus and the British Virgin Islands.
Once the trades were made, those companies would then funnel a portion of the profits back to the hackers, as their commission.
In total, the international hacking scheme allegedly raked in $100 million between 2010 and 2015, as SEC Chair Mary Jo White explained:
This international scheme is unprecedented in terms of the scope of the hacking, the number of traders, the number of securities traded and profits generated.
Andrew Ceresney, Director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement, added:
This cyber hacking scheme is one of the most intricate and sophisticated trading rings that we have ever seen, spanning the globe and involving dozens of individuals and entities.
Authorities said that beginning in 2010 and continuing as recently as May, they gained access to more than 150,000 press releases that were about to be issued by Marketwired in Toronto; PR Newswire in New York; and Business Wire of San Francisco.
The press releases contained earnings figures and other corporate information.
The case should sound a warning for anyone who uses email in a work setting, Paul Fishman, U.S. attorney for New Jersey, said on Tuesday.
Every employee of every company has to be vigilant about the emails they get from people who look like their friends or acquaintances, urging them to click on a link.
They should say to themselves every time that happens, ‘That seems like a really bad idea.’
Five defendants were arrested in the U.S. on Tuesday, and warrants were issued for four others in Ukraine.
The most serious charges in the indictment, wire fraud and securities fraud, carry up to 20 years in prison.
The SEC lawsuit named 17 individuals and 15 companies in the U.S. and abroad, in such places as Russia, France, Malta and Cyprus.
The agency is seeking unspecified fines and restitution against the 32 defendants.
To read the SEC’s detailed complaint in full, scroll down or click here.
Contains reporting by the Associated Press.
http://cdn.thejournal.ie/media/2015/08/comp-pr2015-163-1.pdf
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Why no one is protesting against being charged USC? This tax should be abolished a long time ago!
@Izzy: yes it should have, “This is temporary until recession is over” they said over 10 years ago. Once you have a tax, like heroin, the government can’t let it go. We don’t protest like the French, all we do is “ah sure look it, is only for now”. Meanwhile, Vaseline prices are also up, at least keep these down since we need it… St this point, we’re being pimped.
@Izzy: why aren’t you??
@Izzy: The UK introduced income tax to pay for the Boer War.
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: I thought it the Napoleonic Wars or the one before that ….
@Izzy: Indeed, Why is nobody protesting governments spending since 2019?!?! The spending budget is up 36% since 2019, and that was the biggest ever then!!!! The only thing we ever hear from the ERSI or those sort of groups around budget time is than we shouldn’t give tax breaks. What about their ever increasing departmental budgets?!?! Scandalous while we’re still paying austerity taxes and in the middle of a cost of living crisis while Income tax/vat takes are massive and they’re increasing their budgets by so much!!!!!!
@Izzy: It was never going to be abolished. It brings in too much money. FG got verbal incontinence in their promise anything to get elected back then by saying they would abolish it. The best thing they could have done for themselves anyway would be rename it or roll it into something else.
@John Moore: it brings in approx 5 billion. Last year income tax was 10.8 billion more than 2019, vat was 7.5 billion more than 2019. 2019s receipts were the highest ever back then. And they’re on track for even more this year….. Needless to say that it was even more than 2018s, 2017s, 2016s takes…… Etc. Govt spending is up 36% on 2019…… if govt managed their spending and didn’t constantly increase their departmental budgets why can’t it be gotten rid of?!?! Their spending in a scandal in itself!!! No accountability! Pity the journal won’t do a piece in their historical spending and revenue but are happy to publish scaremongering articles about how they need to be cautious regarding tax breaks near budget time!
@Izzy: USC is the fairest tax as everyone pays it. Scrap all other taxes, have one USC rate and allow for deductions instead.
Simplify!
@Izzy: what would you replace it with and the 5 Billion needed to pay doctors nursers teachers , careers and all manner of stuff people want central government to pay for. Unless of course you believe in a magic money tree or that someone else should pay. USC is the only tax charged on every income, it cant be avoided. Before USC we played PRSI and health levy
@Peter Byrne: but we got something for PRSI, it’s just called RSI now still nothing for it and the USC is a bankers bailout tax, should have been done away with years ago along with the tolls, all parties at some election have promised to scrap the USC but it’s handy for topping up pensions and giving themselves pay rises
Thats great news. After gouging the life out of working taxpayers they can now spent it giving illegal immigrants free money,accomodation,phones and food. Great, just effing great.
@Gerry Lamont: Nobody gives illegal immigrants anything.
@Ray: None of that goes to illegal immigrants. Asylum seekers are here legally.
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: asylum seekers from Albania and Georgia etc etc
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: through deficient laws , controls and enforcement
I wish we had the foresight to use these windfalls to set us up long term. Giving people an extra €5 a week is pointless and yet the majority would vote for that than investing in becoming energy independent or something that would be beneficial for years to come.
@ecrowley ecrowley: But they are to
an extent they put 4bn aside last year and will probably do that again this year or early next year as the fiscal year ends Dec, being 100% ” energy independent ” may never happen , but 70% would be acceptable, as we’ll never embrace nuclear.
Our spending needs to be curtailed but the second that’s attempted the word Austerity will be banded about.
@ecrowley ecrowley Who is this “we” you speak of?
@Paul O’Mahoney: my last Electric Ireland bill was 77.2% Renewable energy
@Paul O’Mahoney: Ya, the rainy day fund is a smart move especially if capital spending was to be used at a time where it’s cheaper to get things done. If we don’t strike sooner rather than later, I’d be afraid the money will just be frizzled away.
@Seanie: the government following consultation with “we” the public.
@ecrowley ecrowley: That’s exactly what the rainy day funds are
@MMCLO: I’m aware of what they are. I said the money would most likely be frizzled away down the line and NOT used on capital projects. Hence, why I’d use a significant portion of these windfalls now and get something meaningful done, despite the high costs of doing things currently.
@Meh Meh: Mine was allegedly 100%, but there are more things that are powered, and gas turbines are used along with imports.
@Paul O’Mahoney: we are the most reliant country in Europe on fossil fuels, near 100% of which is imported. just like everything else, in reality there is zero government impetus to be energy independent. would take at least 20 years. governments don’t do long term.
@ecrowley ecrowley: When did the government ever consult “we” the people over what to do with exchequer funds, also i would prefer to have money in my bank account so I could support my kids rather than the government having it to misspend on the likes of the childrens hospital or that bike shed.
@Niall English: We can do some of it ourselves. My house should be a net energy producer over the year with its 30 square meters of grid tied panels.
I do wish that plug in solar was allowed here. That gets renters involved because they can take it with them when they move.
@Niall English: Are you sure about that reliance figure, Germany has very little natural resources and was importing all it’s gas from Russia until the war. About 30% of our electricity is now wind generation and rising, Corrib, gas is probably 50% depleted by now.
What exactly should any Government do?
@Steve O’Hara-Smith: Why isn’t plug in Solar allowed?
@Seanie: I totally agree about money being misspent. And we’d overpay again most likely cos of some of äpes in charge. My point is I’d rather forgo the extra fiver a week but have something meaningful to show for it at the end of the day. Imagine not being reliant on the importation of gas or oil.
@Paul O’Mahoney: last year 83% of our energy production was via fossil fuels via oil imported from UK, US and Azerbaijan, and gas imported from UK and Norway.
@ecrowley ecrowley: I understand where you’re coming from but I don’t trust the government with our taxes and their ability to undertake infrastructure projects that come in on budget and on time, that’s why I would prefer that extra fiver in my pocket, the government has and still is squandering exchequer funds.
@Niall English: Have a look at the CSO figures for 2023 it’s very different to yours.
@Seanie: I can’t argue with you there. If we have learned anything it’s that they are very good at spending our money. I suppose I foolishly keep hoping they might get one good, long-term project done right. Wishful thinking says you.
@Paul O’Mahoney: 5% of renewable energy consumption as per latest report i could find. that was 2021 report. which i believe was the last census date iirc.
We’ll see none of it anyway, makes no difference
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: some will see it and those that choose to work, won’t see it.
Won’t last long if they keep constructing 350k unsweetened sheds for bikes , be gone in a jiffy lol
@daz Carroll: imagine how much it would cost if it had been sweetened!
Build Houses, don’t send it to U Kraine.
@087 bed: The total amount we have sent to Ukraine since Russia invaded amounts to €70 each. I think we can afford that.
@087 bed: We should send you to Russia. You’re fierce enamoured with Putin, so you are.
How’s our ‘rainy day fund’ going? I hope we’re not going to be like the rags-to-riches-back-to-rags lotto millionaires we read about from time to time.
If the multinationals start to leave, what happens?
Build something we need please.
@Thesaltyurchin: Bike sheds?
@Seanie: Easy Sean!… it’s Bike ‘shed’ ;)
Always an excuse like timing when we have a surplus.
We are been spun lies and bull by FFG and those around them for decades now.
@Vinny Hughes: The timing issue is simply that CT receipts earlier in the year weren’t following expectations and it was corrected in August, they didn’t state what the issue was but comparing last August to this August gives a huge increase which in reality only a catch up .
Can’t see what’s spun about it.
That would build us 10,382 bike sheds!
Great news, SF wouldn’t be long turning that into a deficit
@Fintan Pox: you do know SF have never been in government ?
@Shane Kinsella (Kinsey): They have and are. In the North, they promised 100,000 homes. They delivered a little under 3000.
@honey badger: Well, considering the Assembly didn’t sit for quite some time on account of reasons NOT due to SF, I doubt any government would have produced any better results, to be fair.
Because we are in the biggest transfer of wealth ever with inflation and corporate gouging, the last hoover up of assets and liquidity before the new system is implemented.
Maybe start building something resembling a transportation system with it?
@GoodBrother: A train set?
Shinner dole scroungers hoping for a windfall lol
@Fintan Pox: Time now to cut the dole for anyone not working for a year or more
Tax and tax, spend and spend, elect and elect.
Let’s build a further 60 bike sheds then
Help carers and old age pensioners out a bit more they need it with the rising cost of everything not to mention heating give them a help.
It’s good that O donohoe is there as that fellow hasn’t a clue , why not have a state owned facility producing houses that are produced in house ready for construction A rated that can be assembled in a very short time at half the cost and built on government land . But that’s common sense so NO developers won’t make money out of that????
How about spending the money on a woefully inadequate health service!!!
@Mike Dunne: health service is not woefully inadequate and the tax payer already spends 25 billion a year
Another bike shed would be in order the last one turned out well looks lovely
Easy fix – just split it up and send it to Ukraine and Gaza. Best use of our money
If ever there was a time when a level head is needed in the department of finance its now. There are alot if indications of a slow down on the horizon and our dopes want to buy an election at any cost.
have your say