PETER Stokes, a dual US-Estonian citizen and alleged member of the hacking group Scattered Spider, was extradited to the US following his arrest in Finland. At 19 years old, he faces multiple charges including conspiracy and fraud related to a cyberattack on a luxury jewelry retailer, where hackers stole data and demanded an $8 million ransom in cryptocurrency. While the retailer did not pay the ransom, the attack incurred significant losses estimated at $2 million due to operational disruptions.
Scattered Spider is linked to over 100 hacks and $100 million in ransom payments, with notable campaigns in 2025 and 2022. Authorities have been actively prosecuting members of the group, including recent arrests and guilty pleas, despite Scattered Spider announcing its retirement in September 2024.