Cybercriminals Seize Control of the Bet9ja Website and Demand a $340M Ransom

07:56
15 Apr

Bet9ja, a leading Nigerian sports betting platform, was hacked by the Russian Blackcat ring, locking users out and making them concerned about their deposits.

The company verified the website’s breach, noting that the whole Bet9ja system had been under attack by the Russian Blackcat crime syndicate, which is well-known for cyber attacks on large corporations around the globe.

Bet9ja revealed in a statement made on Thursday, April 7, 2022, that the hackers were demanding a ransom, but they refused to accept their conditions.

The firm indicated that their IT staff were diligently working to restore regular Bet9ja website services and assured clients that their funds were safe despite the Bet9ja website hacking news.

“Bet9ja recently became a victim of a sophisticated criminal cyber-attack, blocking your access to our platform,” the firm stated. “This is a significant situation for us. Our first concern is to keep our clients safe, and you can be certain that your accounts and money are secure.”

Kunle Soname, Chairman of KC Gaming Networks Limited, the proprietors of Bet9ja, admitted that a Russian hacking gang had hacked the company’s website.

“The whole Bet9ja system has been attacked by the Russian Blackcat organization, which is known for its attacks on major corporations throughout the globe. This Russian gang has launched a massive hacking assault, but our employees have been working nonstop since yesterday to restore all services, although it is not easy.” Mr. Soname admitted that the hackers had requested a colossal sum of money in Bitcoin as a ransom. On the other hand, the betting kingpin claimed that the website would be back up and running shortly.

He also refuted rumors that the corporation failed to cash out funds of recent winners, noting that the company would reimburse all winners’ money once they restored operations.

Although Bet9ja.com did not disclose the hackers’ requests, the latest rumors indicate that the Russian organization is asking for a ransom of over 140 billion Naira ($340,000,000) to return the Bet9ja website to its owners, KC Gaming Networks Limited.

Moreover, officials from the Lagos State Lotteries and Gaming Authority stated that they were aware of the problem and had advised clients of the firm to be patient while assuring them that measures were being put in place to recover the website.

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