Computer hacker or Cyber attack concept background
WASHINGTON – The US Department of the Treasury Friday banned a Karachi-based firm for performing on behalf of the Russian network that attempted to intervene within the 2020 US presidential elections.
Second Eye Solution aka Forwarders was a network that produced forged identities and sold them to Internet Research Agency IRA in covering its identity to evade sanctions. IRA is a Russian troll farm that the Office of Foreign Assets Control, OFAC, designated pursuant to E.O. 13848 in 2018 for interfering within the 2016 presidential election.
The company, whose Facebook handle shows a waterpark-equipped holiday rental, is run by 34-year-old Mohsin Raza, who is co-founder of the online fake ID business and allegedly assisted Russian operatives get a toehold within America.
According to the indictment issued by US federal prosecutors, Pakistan-based network founder operated a digital fake ID mill, churning out images of doctored drivers’ licenses, fake passports, and forged utility bills to assist rogue clients to pass verification checks at U.S. payment companies and tech firms. Officials charged him for creating false documents and fraud.
The department’s announcement follows the Intelligence Community’s Assessment of Foreign Threats to the 2020 US Federal Elections. The assessment mentioned the intentions and efforts of key foreign actors to influence or interfere with the US elections and undermine public confidence within the election process.
In the year 2017, IRA purchased 15 fraudulent driver license images from Karachi based firm. The purchased licenses were then abused as supporting documents for online social media accounts opened by the IRA.
Mujtaba Raza, Syed Hasnain, Muhammad Hayat, Syed Raza, and Shahzad Ahmed assisted Raza and are members who were involved in fraudulent identities. Besides SES, the network also deals through Fresh Air Farm House, Like Wise, and MK Softtech to launder profits.
Meanwhile, Raza stated the contradiction of what the US alleged. Refuting any wrongdoing, he confessed to being a digital counterfeiter, saying he used “simple Photoshop” to change the IDs, bills, and other documents to order.
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