The US Justice Department has announced charges against Andrew Shenkosky, a 29-year-old Michigan man
The US Justice Department has announced charges against Andrew Shenkosky, a 29-year-old Michigan man, for purchasing and using stolen credentials from the Genesis Market cybercrime marketplace. According to authorities, Shenkosky, who was living in Minnesota at the time, acquired approximately 2,500 stolen login credentials from Genesis Market in 2020.
Investigators claim that in at least one instance, Shenkosky used stolen credentials to access a bank account and transfer the funds to a PayPal account under his control. Additionally, he allegedly attempted to sell some of the stolen credentials on RaidForums, a well-known cybercrime marketplace that was dismantled by law enforcement in 2022.
Shenkosky faces multiple charges, including wire fraud, aggravated identity theft, possession of unauthorized access devices, and trafficking in computer access information. He recently appeared before a judge, and his arraignment hearing is scheduled for this week.
The Genesis Market was a major cybercrime platform operating since 2018, providing cybercriminals with access to bots capable of bypassing anti-fraud systems and engaging in various illicit activities. However, in April 2023, the FBI seized the marketplace's surface web domain and arrested 120 individuals as part of an international crackdown.
Despite efforts by Genesis Market administrators to keep the site operational on the dark web, the marketplace appears to have been permanently shut down. There have been no further reports of its activity, suggesting that the takedown was successful.
Last year, the Justice Department also charged a Buffalo police detective for purchasing stolen credentials from Genesis Market, further highlighting the widespread impact of the cybercrime platform.
