Chinese national Yunhe Wang, mastermind behind the 911 S5 Botnet, was arrested in Singapore by US authorities.

Wang, along with accomplices Jingping Liu and Yanni Zheng, engaged in financial fraud, identity theft, child exploitation, and fraudulent Coronavirus aid relief claims, causing $5.9 billion in losses.

The 911 S5 Botnet allowed access to 19 million infected computers in over 190 countries, generating $99 million in profits and enabling activities like bomb threats and cyberattacks.

Wang faces charges of conspiracy to commit computer fraud, money laundering, and wire fraud, with a potential 65-year prison sentence.

International cooperation, including support from Microsoft, aided in the investigation, resulting in the seizure of $29 million in cryptocurrency.

Wang's efforts to revive his illegal activities were thwarted by his arrest during the FBI's Operation Tunnel Rat, which dismantled the world's largest botnet.

The operation led to the seizure of millions of dollars in assets and the arrest of multiple suspects, with ongoing investigations into other suspects and the seizure of luxury assets and real estate.

The fraudulent activities reflect a broader trend of opportunistic fraud since Covid-19's emergence, with the IRS investigating cases potentially worth $9 billion.

The Secret Service has appointed a National Pandemic Fraud Recovery Coordinator to tackle the issue.

FBI Director Christopher Wray emphasized the significant impact of the 911 S5 Botnet on various criminal activities.