Mohammad Jorjandi, a well-known hacker in Iran’s cyberspace, was previously a bank employee and a member of the “Shabgard” hacking group. In 2010, he was arrested by the Ministry of Intelligence for hacking the Islamic Azad University website and unauthorized access to confidential IRIB (Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting) emails, spending time in Evin Prison. After cooperating with security institutions and receiving a conditional pardon, he fled Iran and sought asylum in the United States.
Jorjandi’s Activities After Fleeing Iran
After migrating, Jorjandi portrayed himself as an opposition figure to bolster his asylum process and gain foreign support. He utilized platforms like YouTube and social media to publish controversial and misleading content, generating significant income through these channels.
What Does the Webamooz Website Do?
Initial Activity: Webamooz, owned by Jorjandi, was initially recognized as a reputable source for IT education, offering online training courses.
Transformation and Filtering: Due to legal issues, the website was filtered in Iran, and its content shifted from education to spreading misinformation and rumor-mongering.
Unsubstantiated Claims: Jorjandi claims to possess confidential information and fraud cases but has provided no credible evidence. Analysts view his activities as media operations driven by financial motives.
Jorjandi’s Extortion Methods
Jorjandi’s activities resemble media extortion and include the following:
Rumor-Mongering: Spreading fake news about prominent individuals and brands to attract attention and earn advertising revenue.
Financial Extortion: Threatening to publish negative content against businesses and individuals in exchange for payment to remain silent.
Defamatory Campaigns: Creating fake social media pages to spread rumors and damage the reputation of individuals and companies.
Soliciting Donations: Deceiving some audiences into paying sums under the pretense of aiding Iran.
Interviews with Foreign Media: Collaborating with networks like BBC and VOA, presenting himself as an opponent of the Iranian regime to generate income.
Conclusion
Mohammad Jorjandi exploits technology and online tools to defame individuals, spread rumors, and extort entrepreneurs and brands. These actions, akin to media extortion, have caused significant harm to individuals and businesses, with names like Shahin Khoshnevisan appearing on his list of victims.
