Two Administrators of Major Russian-Language Cybercrime Forum Arrested for Conspiracy to Traffic and Possess Unauthorized Access Devices

A criminal complaint was unsealed this week charging Russian national Pavel Kublitskii and Kazakhstan native Alexandr Khodyrev with conspiracy to traffic in unauthorized access devices and possess 15 or more unauthorized access devices. The defendants allegedly served as administrators for the WWH-Club, a prominent Russian-language cybercrime forum, and operated additional criminal platforms, including Skynetzone, Opencard, and Center-Club.

According to the criminal complaint, Kublitskii and Khodyrev managed WWH-Club from abroad, coordinating illegal activities that included the sale of stolen personal information, credit card data, and other tools essential for committing cybercrime. Despite the arrest of these key figures, WWH-Club continues to operate, with remaining administrators attempting to distance the forum from the accused individuals.

Investigators revealed that WWH-Club, established in 2012, was a significant entry point into the broader cybercrime ecosystem, boasting over 353,000 registered users by March 2023. The forum generated substantial revenue through the sale of illicit goods and services, as well as through an ‘education’ program that taught participants how to engage in carding and other fraudulent activities.

The arrest of Kublitskii and Khodyrev is part of an ongoing effort to disrupt global cybercrime networks. Law enforcement agencies are working closely with international partners to bring other WWH-Club administrators and members to justice.

Both defendants face charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, identity theft, and other related offenses. If convicted, they face significant prison sentences, as well as potential forfeiture of assets derived from their illegal activities.