Another Scattered Spider Member Pleads Guilty to Multi-Million Dollar Cybercrime Spree

Ahmed Hossam Eldin Elbadawy, a member of the notorious Scattered Spider cybercrime group, pleaded guilty a year ago to wire fraud conspiracy and aggravated identity theft, though the plea only became public this week when prosecutors filed for forfeiture of his criminal proceeds. Elbadawy worked alongside co-conspirators Noah Michael Urban, already sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Tyler Robert Buchanan, who awaits sentencing after his own guilty plea.

According to court records, the group used social engineering to obtain employee credentials and then accessed sensitive company systems to identify high net worth staff holding cryptocurrency accounts. Prosecutors linked the crew to at least 12 named victim companies across entertainment, telecom, technology, IT, cloud and virtual currency sectors, with 29 total victims identified. Stolen cryptocurrency thefts included nearly $6.35 million in one incident, $571,000 in another, and close to $1.7 million in a third.

Authorities are now seeking forfeiture of Elbadawy's assets, including more than $14 million in Bitcoin, over $3.4 million in Ethereum, cash, luxury vehicles and other high-value items purchased with the proceeds. The case highlights how effective social engineering tactics remain against even large, well-resourced organisations.