Hackers use simple phone trick to hold Wall Street giants hostage in ransom plot: report

Cybercriminals are targeting major Wall Street firms like Blackstone and KKR, using simple IT help desk phone scams to steal passwords and demand massive ransoms.

Ransom-seeking hackers employing phone calls to compromise their targets have set their sights on dozens of prominent U.S. financial institutions and other businesses over the past month, according to findings from Google and internet intelligence data reviewed by Reuters.

The data shows the hackers devised websites aimed at stealing passwords from employees of private equity firms and companies including Blackstone, Bridgewater Associates, Apollo Global Management, Bain Capital, KKR, TPG, CME Group and Moody's.