The scheme was deemed one of the most "sophisticated" phishing scams of all time. But now, the five alleged cybercriminals thought to be behind the group that security researchers have called "Scattered Spider" have officially been criminally charged.

The five men, aged 20 to 25, are allegedly members of a hacking conspiracy dubbed “ Scattered Spider ” and “ Oktapus ,” which specialized in SMS-based phishing attacks that tricked employees at tech firms into entering their credentials and one-time passcodes at phishing websites.

Key to Scattered Spider’s success were phishing attacks so methodical and well-orchestrated they were hard to detect even when sophisticated defenses were implemented. Microsoft researchers, who track the group under the name Octo Tempest, declared it “one of the most dangerous financial criminal groups.”

Federal investigators says the suspects sent text-based phishing messages to steal login credentials and breach numerous companies. Targets reportedly included MGM Resorts.

U.S. prosecutors unveiled criminal charges on Wednesday against five alleged members of Scattered Spider, a loose-knit community of hackers suspected of breaking into dozens of U.S. companies to steal confidential information and cryptocurrency.

Five alleged members of the notorious Scattered Spider gang were accused by US prosecutors of a hacking spree that targeted dozens of companies and individuals, resulting in the theft of sensitive data and at least $11 million in cryptocurrency.

The quintuplet, who are all in their early 20s, are reportedly members of the notorious hacking collective known as Scattered Spider (aka Octo Tempest, 0ktapus, UNC3944), which has been linked to major data extortion campaigns against Caesars Entertainment and MGM, often in collaboration with the notorious Black Cat/ALPHV ransomware group.

U.S. prosecutors announced charges against five alleged members of the hacker group Scattered Spider, accused of infiltrating U.S. companies to steal sensitive data and cryptocurrency. The defendants,

After evading capture for more than two years following a hacking spree that targeted some of the world's biggest tech companies, U.S. authorities say they have finally caught at least some of the hackers responsible.