The person at the center of this case
Email Service Providers (ESPs) and millions of email users
Cold Case · Open
13 years waiting · since 2012
VIET QUOC NGUYEN
Justice for Email Service Providers (ESPs) and millions of email users — the trail went cold in 2012, but the truth hasn't.
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Key leads to think about
🎯
suspect
Lead #1Why has Nguyen evaded capture for over a decade despite an international manhunt, and what is his current location?
🔍
evidence
Lead #2How were the stolen email addresses monetized, and which websites received the fraudulent traffic?
📍
location
Lead #3What is the significance of his ties to Vietnam and previous residence in the Netherlands in locating him?
Viet Quoc Nguyen is wanted for a massive cybercrime operation spanning from 2009 to 2012, during which he allegedly hacked into at least eight email service providers across the United States and stole over one billion email addresses. He used the stolen data to launch spam attacks and generate revenue through unauthorized commissions on internet traffic directed to commercial websites. A federal arrest warrant was issued in October 2012, but Nguyen remains at large with known ties to Vietnam and previous residence in the Netherlands.
Case
#636
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia
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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 #4Nguyen may have facial acne or pockmarks—has this identifying feature been used in international law enforcement databases?
Have information about any of these leads?
Even the smallest detail could be the key to solving this case.
Official wording
Source Narrative
Computer Intrusion - Wire Fraud Conspiracy Caution: Viet Quoc Nguyen is wanted for allegedly hacking into at least eight E-Mail Service Providers (ESPs) and stealing confidential information, including proprietary marketing data containing over one billion e-mail addresses. The ESPs were located all over the United States, including two based in the Northern District of Georgia.
The massive data breach occurred between approximately February of 2009 and June of 2012. During that time, Nguyen allegedly hacked into the ESPs' computer databases and used his unauthorized access to launch spam attacks on tens of millions of e-mail recipients who had their addresses stolen.
Additionally, Nguyen also allegedly entered into an arrangement that allowed him to generate revenue from his computer hacks by receiving a commission on sales generated from Internet traffic that he directed to websites promoting specific products. A federal arrest warrant for Nguyen was issued on October 3, 2012, in the United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia, Atlanta, Georgia, after a federal grand jury indicted him and he was charged with wire fraud conspiracy for the computer intrusion.
Remarks: Nguyen may have acne or pockmarks on his face. He has ties to Vietnam and once resided in the Netherlands.
Timeline of Events
📋
2009-02-01
Computer intrusions begin
Alleged hacking into email service providers begins approximately February 2009
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2012-06-30
Intrusions end
Alleged computer hacking activity ceases approximately June 2012
🕵️
2012-10-03
Federal arrest warrant issued
Federal grand jury indicts Viet Quoc Nguyen; arrest warrant issued in U.S. District Court, Northern District of Georgia for wire fraud conspiracy
Key Locations
Interactive map showing important locations related to this case
Case Information
Incident:February 1, 2009
Last Updated:June 16, 2026
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Case Information
Incident:February 1, 2009
Last Updated:June 16, 2026