Federal authorities have charged 19-year-old Remington Ogletree in connection with a series of sophisticated phishing attacks targeting telecommunications companies and financial institutions. The Texas and Florida resident becomes the sixth alleged member of the notorious hacking group Scattered Spider to face federal charges.
The group gained notoriety in 2023 after launching devastating cyberattacks against MGM Resorts and Caesars Entertainment. Their breach portfolio includes major tech companies like Coinbase, Twilio, Mailchimp and LastPass.
According to court documents, between October 2023 and May 2024, Ogletree orchestrated phishing campaigns that caused over $4 million in losses. He allegedly impersonated IT support staff and pressured employees to click malicious links, stealing credentials to access company networks.
In one incident, Ogletree reportedly compromised a U.S. telecom provider to send 8.5 million fraudulent text messages aimed at cryptocurrency theft. He also targeted 149 employees at a financial institution, successfully breaching 12 accounts. A European telecom company fell victim when an employee was tricked into providing network access credentials.
During a February FBI interview at his Fort Worth home, Ogletree admitted knowing key Scattered Spider members and explained their focus on targeting Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) companies due to weaker security measures. He also revealed his criminal activities began at age 12 with SIM-swapping schemes.
Days after the FBI interview, Ogletree attempted to launder $75,000 through what turned out to be an undercover FBI operation. Messages from his alleged Telegram account boasted of earning "$300k past 24 hours" through cryptocurrency exploits.
Ogletree faces charges of wire fraud and identity theft. He was released on $50,000 bail as the investigation continues into Scattered Spider's activities.