GoKawiilDutch police confirm arrest tied to ShinyHunters investigation
Dutch police confirmed a 24-year-old Amsterdam man, arrested earlier in September, is being investigated in connection with the ShinyHunters hacking group. He is set to appear before the Rotterdam District Court on September 29. Media outlets have identified the suspect as Pepijn van der Stap, previously convicted in 2023 for hacking and extorting more than a dozen companies.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
The case suggests investigators are probing a possible link between a previously convicted Dutch hacker and one of the more prolific extortion groups tied to recent high-profile breaches, including incidents involving the FBI and the Clop ransomware gang's leak site. The recurring use of the 'Umbreon' Pokémon persona across years and forums, as reported by KrebsOnSecurity, complicates attribution since the same imagery appeared before Van der Stap's known online activity began.
- A 24-year-old Amsterdam man was arrested this month in a ShinyHunters-related investigation, Dutch police confirmed.
- He has been identified by researchers as Pepijn van der Stap, previously sentenced in 2023 for hacking and extortion.
- Investigators are examining whether his past 'Umbreon' alias links him to ShinyHunters, though the persona also predates his known use of it.
Source: bleepingcomputer.com, 2026-09-28
Published there as: “Dutch police confirm arrest in ShinyHunters hacking investigation”
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