FBI offers $3M bounty for Russian mastermind behind Zeus malware attacks

A cybercriminal’s code drained bank accounts worldwide for years. Now, the U.S. is offering millions to finally bring ‘Slavik’ to justice.

, and Administrator

2025 December 2 . 1:33 PM

1 min read

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FBI offers $3M bounty for Russian mastermind behind Zeus malware attacks

The FBI has placed a $3 million bounty on Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev, a Russian cybercriminal linked to one of the most damaging banking malware schemes in history. Known by the nickname 'Slavik,' Bogachev is believed to be the mastermind behind the Zeus Trojan, which stole hundreds of millions from businesses worldwide.

Bogachev first gained notoriety in June 2009 after a cyberheist targeting Bullitt County, Kentucky. By late 2009, he had begun selling the Zeus Trojan code and setting up botnet networks for buyers. The malware spread rapidly, infecting tens of millions of computers and draining bank accounts, particularly from small- and mid-sized companies in the US and Europe.

Bogachev’s Zeus malware caused financial losses exceeding hundreds of millions of dollars. The $3 million reward reflects the severity of his alleged crimes and the ongoing effort to bring him to justice. His case remains one of the most high-profile cybercrime investigations in recent years.