The person at the center of this case
Multiple organizations: approximately 144 U.S. universities, 176 foreign universities, 5 U.S. government agencies, 36 U.S. private companies, 11 foreign private companies, and 2 international NGOs
Cold Case · Open - Wanted
8 years waiting · since 2018
ABDOLLAH KARIMA
Justice for Multiple organizations: approximately 144 U.S. universities, 176 foreign universities, 5 U.S. government agencies, 36 U.S. private companies, 11 foreign private companies, and 2 international NGOs — the trail went cold in 2018, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1How did Karima gain initial access to these university and government computer systems, and what specific vulnerabilities did he exploit?
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evidence
Lead #2What proprietary research and data was stolen, and how was it transferred to Iranian customers?
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person
Lead #3Who else was involved in the Mabna Institute operation, and have other conspirators been identified or apprehended?
Abdollah Karima is wanted for his role in a sophisticated cyber espionage scheme that targeted over 320 universities and dozens of government agencies and private companies across the United States and internationally. Working with Iran's Mabna Institute and at the direction of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Karima allegedly hacked into computer systems to steal proprietary research and data, which was then sold to Iranian entities. He remains at large and is believed to be residing in Iran, speaking Farsi, making his apprehension a significant challenge for U.S. law enforcement.
Case
#1076
United States (distributed across multiple institutions)
United States District Court for the Southern District of New York; Federal Bureau of Investigation
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More leads to consider
Beyond the top three above — each detail below could be the thread that pulls this case open.
📞
contact
Lead #4What is Karima's current location and network of contacts in Iran that might be facilitating his evasion?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Conspiracy to Commit Computer Hacking; Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; Computer Fraud - Unauthorized Access for Private Financial Gain; Wire Fraud; Aggravated Identity Theft Caution: Abdollah Karima is wanted for his alleged involvement in criminal activities, including obtaining unauthorized access to computer systems, stealing proprietary data from those systems, and selling that stolen data to Iranian customers such as Iranian universities and the Iranian government. Karima was an associate of the Mabna Institute , a private government contractor based in the Islamic Republic of Iran that performed this work for the Iranian government, at the behest of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
Victims of the scheme included approximately 144 universities in the United States, 176 foreign universities in 21 countries, five federal and state government agencies in the United States, 36 private companies in the United States, 11 foreign private companies, and two international non-governmental organizations. On February 7, 2018, a grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York indicted Karima on computer intrusion, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges, and a federal arrest warrant has been issued for his arrest.
Remarks: Karima is known to speak Farsi and resides in Iran.
Timeline of Events
🕵️
2018-02-07
Federal Indictment Issued
A grand jury in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York indicted Abdollah Karima on computer intrusion, wire fraud, and aggravated identity theft charges; federal arrest warrant issued
Case Information
Incident:February 7, 2018
Last Updated:October 30, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:February 7, 2018
Last Updated:October 30, 2026