Crime Stoppers Launched Cybercrime Bounty Programme
The initiative aims to curb cross-border ransomware attacks by incentivizing intelligence that leads to prosecutions.
Updated on Sept. 25, 2026 in Cybersecurity
Live Poll
Do you support the use of private bounty programs to help law enforcement catch cyber criminals?
Crime Stoppers International has launched a new global cybercrime bounty programme that allows individuals to contribute funds for rewards against hackers. The organisation recently issued a $40,000 bounty for information leading to the prosecution of the Inc Ransomware group.
Why it matters
International ransomware syndicates frequently operate across jurisdictions, complicating enforcement efforts by local authorities. This programme creates a decentralized mechanism to crowdsource intelligence on threat actors that might otherwise evade traditional police investigations.
The programme is offering a $40,000 total bounty for information on the Inc Ransomware group, which includes a US$22,000 portion currently valued at approximately NZ$37,000. Fortinet acts as the technical arbiter, collecting and assessing all anonymous tips before submission to law enforcement.
The players
Crime Stoppers International
A global organization that coordinates community-led crime prevention and anonymous reporting initiatives.
Fortinet
A cybersecurity corporation that designs and markets high-performance network security appliances and subscription services.
Inc Ransomware
A cybercriminal syndicate known for targeting critical infrastructure and healthcare systems in Australasia.
The details
The programme accepts anonymous tipoffs from the public, which are then processed by cybersecurity firm Fortinet — a provider of firewalls, anti-virus software, and network security appliances — to verify the intelligence. Once validated, this data is passed to law enforcement agencies to identify hackers responsible for attacks on entities like the New Zealand health system. This process attempts to bridge the visibility gap left by ransomware groups that exploit jurisdictional boundaries to hide their activities.
Timeline
2025: Inc Ransomware targeted the New Zealand health system.
Week of September 25, 2026: Hackers compromised the FBI and various Australian government agencies.
The Tech Race
This initiative follows the precedent set by historical ransomware surges, such as the 2017 Wannacry attack, which forced a global shift in defensive cybersecurity. The programme moves beyond traditional software-based prevention to incentivize human intelligence in an increasingly borderless threat landscape.
The programme creates a new, albeit niche, channel for individuals to report cybercriminal activity anonymously via the Crime Stoppers platform. Security professionals and the public may see increased scrutiny of ransomware activity as the $40,000 incentive structure begins to operate.
The takeaway
The initiative represents a novel attempt to use financial incentives to disrupt the anonymity of global ransomware groups. Observers should track whether this model successfully results in actual prosecutions or if these bounty funds remain unclaimed due to the difficulty of attributing attacks to specific actors.
Further reading
For broader context on current threats, visit the Cybersecurity section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by RNZ.
Live Poll
Do you support the use of private bounty programs to help law enforcement catch cyber criminals?
