The person at the center of this case
Multiple organizations across critical infrastructure, healthcare, transportation, and government sectors
Cold Case · Open
7 years waiting · since 2018
SAMSAM SUBJECTS
Justice for Multiple organizations across critical infrastructure, healthcare, transportation, and government sectors — the trail went cold in 2018, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Both subjects are Iranian nationals believed to be residing in Tehran; what international cooperation efforts are underway for their apprehension?
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evidence
Lead #2Over $6 million in ransom payments were received; how were these funds traced and what financial institutions were involved?
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clue
Lead #3The SamSam ransomware targeted critical infrastructure and healthcare systems; were there any patterns in victim selection or attack methodology?
Mohammad Mehdi Shah Mansouri and Faramarz Shahi Savandi are wanted for operating the SamSam ransomware operation, which encrypted hundreds of computer networks across critical infrastructure, healthcare, transportation, and government sectors since December 2015, generating over $6 million in ransom payments. Both Iranian nationals were indicted in November 2018 by a federal grand jury in New Jersey on charges including conspiracy to commit fraud, wire fraud, intentional computer damage, and extortion. The FBI continues to seek their location and arrest as they are believed to be residing in Tehran, Iran.
Case
#901
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI); United States District Court for the District of New Jersey
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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.
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location
Lead #4Why did the attackers target U.S. and international organizations specifically, and what was their operational security strategy?
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 Fraud and Related Activity in Connection with Computers; Conspiracy to Commit Wire Fraud; Intentional Damage to a Protected Computer; Transmitting a Demand in Relation to Damaging a Protected Computer Mohammad Mehdi Shah Mansouri and Faramarz Shahi Savandi are wanted for allegedly launching SamSam ransom ware, aka MSIL/Samas.A attacks, which encrypted hundreds of computer networks in the United States and other countries. Since December of 2015, Shah Mansouri and Shahi Savandi have received over $6 million in ransom payments from victims across several sectors, including critical infrastructure, healthcare, transportation, and state/local governments.
On November 26, 2018, a federal grand jury sitting in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey, Newark, New Jersey, indicted Shah Mansouri and Shahi Savandi on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud and related activity in connection with computers, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, intentional damage to a protected computer, and transmitting a demand in relation to damaging a protected computer. The District of New Jersey issued a federal arrest warrant for both men.
Remarks: Mohammad Mehdi Shah Mansouri is an Iranian male with a date of birth of September 24, 1991. He has brown hair and brown eyes and was born in Qom, Iran.
Faramarz Shahi Savandi is an Iranian male who was born in Shiraz, Iran, on September 16, 1984. Both men are known to speak Farsi and reside in Tehran, Iran.
Timeline of Events
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2015-12-01
SamSam ransomware campaign begins
Mohammad Mehdi Shah Mansouri and Faramarz Shahi Savandi begin launching SamSam ransomware attacks against computer networks
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2018-11-26
Federal indictment issued
Federal grand jury in the United States District Court for the District of New Jersey indicts both subjects on charges of conspiracy to commit fraud, wire fraud, intentional computer damage, and extortion
Key Locations
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Case Information
Incident:December 1, 2015
Last Updated:October 30, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:December 1, 2015
Last Updated:October 30, 2026