Scammer tricks 2 big US tech companies into paying him $100 million

Evaldas Rimasauskas can face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison

A Lithuanian scammer was able to rip off two US tech firm of a massive $100 million, according to a recent indictment by the US Department of Justice.

Evaldas Rimasauskas, who was arrested late last week by authorities in Lithuania, has now been charged with orchestrating a fraudulent business email compromise scheme that induced two US-based internet companies to wire a total of over $100 million to his bank accounts.



“From half a world away, Evaldas Rimasauskas allegedly targeted multinational internet companies and tricked their agents and employees into wiring over $100 million to overseas bank accounts under his control,” said acting US Attorney Joon H. Kim.

“This case should serve as a wake-up call to all companies – even the most sophisticated – that they too can be victims of phishing attacks by cyber criminals,” he added.

The victim companies were tricked into wiring the amount to two bank accounts in Latvia and Cyprus. Once transferred the stolen money was routed quickly through different bank accounts in various locations throughout the world, including Latvia, Cyprus, Slovakia, Lithuania, Hungary, and Hong Kong.



Rimasauskas has now been charged with one count of wire fraud and three counts of money laundering and can face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison four each count.

The scammer has also been charged with one count of aggravated identity theft, which carries a mandatory minimum sentence of two years in prison.