The person at the center of this case
United States financial sector and technology companies
Cold Case · Open
10 years waiting · since 2016
OMID GHAFFARINIA
Justice for United States financial sector and technology companies — the trail went cold in 2016, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1What is Ghaffarinia's current location and operational status within Iran's cybersecurity infrastructure?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2How many computer systems were actually compromised by the Mersad botnet and what sensitive data was accessed?
📞
contact
Lead #3Who are the other members of Ashiyane Digital Security Team and Sun Army that collaborated with Ghaffarinia?
Omid Ghaffarinia, co-founder of the Iranian computer security firm Mersad, is wanted by the FBI for allegedly orchestrating a coordinated campaign of distributed denial of service (DDoS) attacks against U.S. financial institutions and companies between 2012 and 2013. He is believed to have created malware and attack scripts used by botnets to compromise thousands of computer servers across the United States, United Kingdom, and Israel. Ghaffarinia remains at large and is thought to be living in Iran, making his apprehension a significant cybercrime priority for federal authorities.
Case
#625
Iran
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) - Southern District of New York
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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.
💡
clue
Lead #4What connections exist between Mersad and official Iranian government cyber operations?
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, and Aid and Abet, Computer Intrusion Caution: Omid Ghaffarinia is wanted for his alleged involvement in a conspiracy to conduct a coordinated campaign of distributed denial of service ("DDoS") attacks against the United States financial sector and other United States companies from 2012 through 2013. Ghaffarinia was the co-founder of Mersad, a private computer security company that performed work on behalf of the Iranian Government, and a former member of the Iran-based computer hacking groups Ashiyane Digital Security Team and Sun Army.
He allegedly created malware to remotely compromise computer systems that formed part of the Mersad botnet that was used to conduct the DDoS attacks and also allegedly authored the attack script used by the Kamikaze botnet. Ghaffarinia has claimed to have successfully compromised thousands of computer servers based in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Israel.
On January 21, 2016, a grand jury in the United States District Court, Southern District of New York, indicted Ghaffarinia for his alleged involvement in the scheme and a federal warrant was issued for his arrest after he was charged with conspiracy to commit, and aid and abet, computer intrusion. Remarks: Ghaffarinia is known to speak Farsi and is thought to be living in Iran.
Timeline of Events
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2012-01-01
DDoS Campaign Period Begin
Coordinated campaign of distributed denial of service attacks against U.S. financial sector and companies begins
📋
2013-12-31
DDoS Campaign Period End
Coordinated campaign of distributed denial of service attacks against U.S. financial sector and companies ends
🕵️
2016-01-21
Federal Indictment
Grand jury in U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, indicted Ghaffarinia for conspiracy to commit and aid and abet computer intrusion; federal warrant issued for arrest
Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2012
Last Updated:May 10, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:January 1, 2012
Last Updated:May 10, 2026