Ex-DigitalMint Worker Probed for Ransomware Kickbacks

A former employee of DigitalMint, a Chicago-based company specializing in ransomware negotiations and cryptocurrency payments, is under criminal investigation by the US Justice Department for allegedly collaborating with hackers and profiting from extortion payments. DigitalMint, which has handled over 2,000 ransomware cases since 2017 and serves clients including Fortune 500 companies, immediately terminated the employee upon discovering the alleged misconduct and is cooperating fully with law enforcement. The company has emphasized it is not the target of the investigation and has taken steps to inform and protect affected stakeholders. The case has heightened concerns about the ethics and risks associated with third-party ransomware negotiators, leading some law and insurance firms to advise clients against using DigitalMint during the probe. This incident occurs amid wider industry scrutiny, as previous reports have revealed questionable practices by some ransomware negotiation and data recovery firms. Both the DOJ and FBI have declined to comment further on the ongoing investigation.