Empire Market
With fraud driving massive profits for scammers and cyber criminals, a large underground economy has emerged to supply the most daring, aggressive, and organized fraudsters with the tools and data they need to keep their scams running. In our blog this week, we’re taking a deep dive into dark web vendors and their role in the underground economy. We’ll also explore how you can safeguard your organization against cyber threats by proactively monitoring illicit vendors and their activity on the dark web. Dark web vendors play a vital role in the illicit digital economy, supplying hackers, spammers, and fraudsters with the information, tools, and resources they need (at a price, of course) to defraud their victims or launch damaging cyber attacks.
Most of the remaining categories contribute only a little, with most representing only 2% or less of all counterfeits. Thus, almost 80% of counterfeits listed were represented by only five (of the 16) categories of products. Instead of offering a wide selection of drugs for sale as a ‘physical good’ for sale, this section of the market features counterfeited documents and items (e.g. cigarettes), weapons, and a limited supply of LSD tabs and prescription drugs. Clonazepam and LSD tabs are allegedly shipped from Europe, a handgun offered for $10,200 USD, and fake tax certificates and bank cards were advertised from various international government and financial institutions.
Some are full-fledged criminal enterprises that ship illicit drugs and banned chemicals to their clients from secret production facilities around the world, or engage in fraud and cyber crime on a global scale. The research featured different services accessible that empower buyers to assemble fraudulent Covid-related sites, permitting them to bait their victims into uncovering individual data for the reasons for ransomware. As per analysis, there were 37 darknet markets working toward the finish of 2020. For more information on darknet markets, you can read the full report by Chainalysis here.
- Hydra Market, which started operating on the encrypted and anonymous dark web in 2015, made up 80% of darknet sales and brought in about $5.2 billion in cryptocurrency, according to the U.S.
- There could be many tools for getting more information about Darknet users who wish to stay anonymous.
- Enforcement agencies noted that Hydra affiliates made the investigation extra challenging.
- Many of them use Tor for anonymous access, and conduct transactions through Bitcoin and escrow services.
- Around the globe, countries are investing more in specialistpolicing units to detect and pursue illegal activity on the darkweb.
“Most of the dark web is drugs, fraud — your hacked information, your stolen credit cards, that sort of thing — and child exploitation, a massive amount of child exploitation,” she said. “Those are the three things that really are on the dark web. All the other stuff is mostly fluff on the side. It’s fun to go look at on the side, but they’re not real.” One such browser is Tor, which is a free, open source software that enables virtually anonymous browsing. In addition, Tor users can download software to host relays or nodes for “onion services,” which are websites that are configured to be accessed only by Tor. Onion services are listed with .onion URLs that include an opaque string of characters in the address. For example, one URL of the Silk Road marketplace, a defunct black market and the most famous dark web site, was silkroad7rn2puhj[.]onion.
Understanding the Darknet Market
The darknet market refers to a series of online platforms that operate on the dark web, allowing users to buy and sell goods and services anonymously.
Dark Net Markets are online cyber criminal platforms used for advertising, buying and selling illegal goods including a significant number of cybersecurity-related tools. Since DNMs are relatively new compared to other platforms, there is more untapped research opportunities in this area. Since shutdown of Alphabay darknet market by FBI, Dream market has been the largest Dark Net Market. Accordingly, the Artificial Intelligence Lab at the University of Arizona has collected this market in 2016 and 2017. Malicious products in DNMs are of significant importance because some of the cyber-security related products advertised on them cannot be found in other platforms such as forums in hacker community.
Characteristics of the Darknet Market
Several key features define the darknet market:
New Zealanders have a history of innovative solutions to the so-called “tyranny of distance”. They also have a relatively high level of digital engagement and online shopping habits by international standards. Usually, buyers and sellers would have trouble connecting and hence justifying large-scale international trafficking. Darknets solve this problem by offering retail quantities of drug types that are traditionally difficult to source, such as MDMA, directly to buyers. Additionally, we may see some of Joker’s Stash’s users migrating to Yale Lodge. Some former Joker’s Stash users have been seen actively inquiring on how to register on Yale Lodge, as they look for new marketplaces to profit from.
Even if you buy something from deepweb marketplaces, you can’t make the payment via regular methods like Paypal, Payoneer, DD, Cheque or direct deposit. So once again, DDoS attacks were successfully orchestrated by law enforcement. Then it was easier for them to penetrate Dream Market’s servers and investigate the operator. When he tried to cross a border, his laptop was searched and it was confirmed that he was OxyMonster, an online drug dealer. The administrator of Silk Road went by the username Dread Pirate Roberts.
Interestingly, the USA seems to account for 5% of counterfeits on dark markets while only accounting for 0.4% in seized goods. Determining those details will help us (III) report counterfeit prices more accurately (by product types) and make sales volume estimations through product feedback, which can help us better understand the counterfeit economy on the dark web. Subsequently, we (IV) compare dark web counterfeit prices with prices of the same products on the surface web to understand possible profit margins for the various product types identified. We then (V) compare our results to observations made through border seizures, complaint statistics, and activities from authorities to contribute to the overall understanding of the counterfeit economy. Lastly, we (VI) discuss our results in relation to theoretical perspectives to provide future research avenues and possible implications for prevention or intervention approaches for authorities and companies facing counterfeits.
- Anonymity: Users often remain anonymous, utilizing tools like Tor to browse and transact securely.
- Cryptocurrency Transactions: Most transactions occur using cryptocurrencies, which adds an additional layer of anonymity.
- Variety of Goods: Products sold can range from everyday items to illegal goods such as drugs and weapons.
- Decentralization: Many darknet markets are decentralized, making them hard to shut down by authorities.
How to Access the Darknet Market
Accessing the darknet market requires specific tools and knowledge:
- Download the Tor browser to access .onion sites.
- Use reliable sources or forums to find reputable darknet markets.
- Create an anonymous email account for communication.
- Use cryptocurrencies for transactions to maintain anonymity.
Risks Associated with the Darknet Market
Engaging in activities on the darknet market carries inherent risks:
- Legal Consequences: Many items traded are illegal, leading to potential criminal charges.
- Fraud and Scams: Users can encounter fraudulent sellers and scams.
- Security Risks: Personal data may be compromised, even when anonymity measures are taken.
Frequently Asked Questions
What types of items are sold on the darknet market?
The darknet market offers a wide range of items, including but not limited to:
- Illegal drugs
- Stolen data
- Counterfeit currency and documents
- Hacking tools and services
Is it safe to buy from the darknet?
While many users believe the anonymity of the darknet market protects them, safety is not guaranteed. Legal issues and scams are prevalent.
How do law enforcement agencies combat darknet markets?
Law enforcement employs various strategies, including:
- Monitoring transactions on cryptocurrencies
- Infiltrating markets to gather intelligence
- Collaborating with international agencies for coordinated efforts
In conclusion, understanding the darknet market involves acknowledging its complexities, risks, and the various tools required for access. While it presents opportunities for anonymity and unique goods, caution is essential due to the potential legal and personal dangers involved.
