Teen Linked to Scattered Spider Charged in Recent Casino Hacks
A teenager suspected of ties to the hacking collective Scattered Spider has been taken into custody and formally charged for a series of cyberattacks that struck two of Las Vegas' largest casino operators in 2023. The breaches affected Caesars Entertainment and MGM Resorts, causing operational chaos and spotlighting the techniques used by the group.
LISTEN TO THIS ARTICLE:The Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department reported that the minor, whose identity remains undisclosed due to age, turned himself in at the Clark County Juvenile Detention Centre on September 17. Prosecutors filed multiple charges, including three counts for misuse of personal data, one for extortion, one for conspiring to commit extortion, and one for unlawful computer activity.
Related: BetMGM Hacker Arrested in Spain after FBI WarrantOfficials further revealed that the Clark County District Attorney's Office is attempting to move the case into adult court, which would significantly raise the potential penalties if convicted.
The incidents occurred in September 2023, when Scattered Spider members exploited social engineering by tricking helpdesk employees. By pretending to be legitimate staff, they persuaded support workers to reset multifactor authentication linked to Okta super administrator profiles.
Armed with these elevated credentials, the hackers gained entry to wider systems, including MGM's Microsoft Azure environment, before deploying ransomware across ESXi hypervisors. The intrusion disrupted hotel check-ins, gaming machines, and digital services throughout MGM's properties.
Caesars also fell victim in a parallel breach. Attackers accessed its loyalty program database containing sensitive customer records. In filings to the Securities and Exchange Commission, Caesars confirmed that data had been stolen but stated steps were taken to ensure deletion. Observers widely interpreted this as evidence of a ransom payment, though the company never admitted to transferring funds.
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Police Continue to Arrest Alleged Conspirators
This arrest adds to a series of prosecutions linked to Scattered Spider. Five other individuals are currently facing trial in the US, including British citizen Tyler Robert Buchanan, indicted last November alongside four U.S. nationals. Authorities describe the group as one of the most disruptive cybercrime networks in recent years, striking industries far beyond gaming.
Investigations continue overseas as well. In the United Kingdom, two men — 18-year-old Owen Flowers and 19-year-old Thalha Jubair — recently appeared before Westminster Magistrates' Court on charges tied to a cyberattack on Transport for London in 2024.
Both suspects were ordered to remain in custody. Jubair faces additional accusations from U.S. prosecutors in New Jersey, who allege he was involved in over 120 intrusions and extortion attempts against 47 organizations, generating more than $115 million in criminal profits.
The FBI has underscored its ongoing commitment to dismantling Scattered Spider and similar groups. Brett Leatherman, Assistant Director of the FBI's Cyber Division, stated that no offender is beyond reach, vowing that investigators will continue tracking, exposing, and prosecuting cybercriminals worldwide.
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