Hacker’s Price List for Hijacking Server & Whatsapp Exposed

Recordings heard by Calcalist reveal the shocking lengths to which litigants would go to influence a trial.

The right-hand man of Ofer Baazov, an Israeli-Canadian businessman embroiled in a contentious lawsuit, allegedly hired a hacker to gain unauthorized access to phones and computer servers of the opposing parties.

The hacker’s price list for these illegal activities was exposed after he switched sides, unveiling a calculated and criminal scheme.

The Legal Battle Unfolds

The backdrop to this scandal is a lawsuit in the Tel Aviv District Court, first exposed in February 2022 by Calcalist. The case revolves around accusations of a massive global smear campaign involving thousands of files obtained from hacked cell phones and computers.

The lawsuit alleges that Ofer (Josh) Baazov orchestrated this campaign, which included threats, harassment, fake websites, and hundreds of false smear videos on social media.

Baazov, who resides in Canada and holds Israeli citizenship, has been involved in Israeli technology companies. His co-defendants are Revaz Magrelishvili, an Israeli living abroad, and Avraham Ben Elisha (Albert Elishkov), who recently resumed residency in Israel.

The plaintiffs, Belarusian software company SoftSwiss’s founders Ivan Montik, Dzmitry Yaikau, and Pavel Kashuba, along with Jewish-Russian partner Roland Isaev, allege that Baazov and his associates launched a relentless “criminal smear campaign” against them.

The Hacker’s Price List

The scheme was revealed through recordings obtained by the plaintiffs, showing that Sagi Lahmi, Baazov’s right-hand man, hired a Jewish-Russian hacker to access the phones and servers of the plaintiffs and others involved in the case.

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The hacker, who later cooperated with the plaintiffs, provided recordings of his conversations with Lahmi, detailing each target’s hacking plan and price list.

In one conversation, Lahmi offered 70,000 euros for hacking two individuals, with specific demands for “mirroring” phones and extracting data from WhatsApp, Telegram, and Signal.

The hacker’s price list included 85,000 euros for hacking Kashuba, with breakdowns of 35,000 euros for server access and 45,000 euros for messaging apps.

Hacking Alon was quoted at 38,000 euros. The hacker described how he would send a link to “infect” the target’s phone, allowing remote access to all data.

Espionage and Counterintelligence

The recordings also reveal how Lahmi and the hacker discussed various attack methods, including turning a mobile phone into a “mirror” to make its content transparent to the intruder.

The hacker acknowledged the criminal nature of these activities and stressed the risks involved. Gabi Alon, a cyber and security consultant hired by the plaintiffs, exposed Lahmi’s activities.

Alon and his team tracked the hacker to Cyprus, where they confronted him, leading to his cooperation. The hacker provided detailed information about the breaches, including the interception of Isaev’s cell phone data while he was in Dubai.

The Belarusians’ attorneys are expected to submit these recordings to the court as part of the ongoing proceedings.

Meanwhile, Baazov and his associates have filed statements of defense denying the claims, attributing the accusations to attempts by the Belarusians to intimidate them.

They have also filed a NIS 92.6 million counterclaim, alleging a “serious and fraudulent collusion” related to their joint investment in BeFree.

As the legal battle continues in the Tel Aviv District Court, the revelations of espionage and hacking have added complexity to the case.

The recordings expose a dark side of litigation, where illegal means are employed to gain the upper hand. To deliver justice in this high-profile case, the court must navigate these murky waters.

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