After Exit Scam, Incognito Darknet Market Operators Now Threaten User Data Leak in Extortion Twist

Numerous accounts have recently revealed that shortly after the darknet market (DNM) Incognito apparently conducted an ‘exit scam,’ its operators have now informed their clients and merchants they are facing extortion. The team behind Incognito claims possession of crypto asset transaction logs and archived conversations from its users, warning that this information will be leaked … Read more

Bitzlato Exchange Busted as US Deals ‘Blow to Crypto Crime,’ Arrests Owner

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitzlato, better known to the Russian-speaking segment of the market, has been taken down as part of an “international cryptocurrency enforcement action,” the U.S. Justice Department announced. The Russian owner of the platform has been arrested for his role in the alleged transmission of illicit money. Bitzlato claimed it was hacked. US, France … Read more

Darknet Forum Dread to Relaunch After Month-Long Downtime Due to DDOS Attack

According to web portal darkdot.com and anonymous journalist Darkdotfail, the popular darknet forum Dread has been down for a month. The well-known forum, which was a place for darknet market (DNM) patrons to discuss operations security, rate specific vendors, and talk about stealth delivery ideas, has been absent for 30 days. However, the forum’s founder, … Read more

Alleged Hydra Administrator Refuses to Provide Access to His Crypto Wallet, Report Claims

A Moscow court has ordered the seizure of the crypto wallet of one of the alleged administrators of darknet market Hydra. Media reports reveal, however, that the man — who was arrested in Russia in mid-April — is refusing to share access to his presumed crypto stash with Russian law enforcement. Investigators Fail to Obtain … Read more

Alleged Hydra Administrator Dmitry Pavlov Reportedly Arrested In Russia

A district court in Moscow has arrested a man whom local media reports identify as Dmitry Pavlov, alleged administrator of the recently shut down darknet market Hydra. Russian authorities believe he has been involved in drug-related crime punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Moscow Court Arrests Russian Believed to Be Hydra Administrator Meshchansky … Read more

Germany Shuts Down Hydra Market, Seizes Servers and Bitcoin

Law enforcement agencies in Germany have targeted Hydra, a leading darknet market (DNM). As part of an operation conducted with U.S. support, the German police were able to establish control over the servers of the Russian-language platform in the country and take down its website. Investigators Hit Hydra in Germany, Confiscate Millions in Crypto Hydra … Read more

‘Ecstasy Kingpin’ From Brockton Forfeits $2.3M in Bitcoin to Massachusetts Law Enforcement

A man from Brockton, Massachusetts was sentenced to eight years in prison and forced to forfeit 59 bitcoin worth $2.3 million, after he was caught selling Xanax, ecstasy, and ketamine on the deep web. Massachusetts U.S. Attorney Rachael Rollins stressed during the announcement that the government has entered the cyber world, and she insists they … Read more

Silk Road 2 Admin Forfeits $667,000 in Bitcoin to British Law Enforcement

According to reports, the founder of the now-defunct Silk Road 2 marketplace has forfeited more than half-billion dollars worth of bitcoin to British authorities. White’s Silk Road 2 admin handle was called “Cthulhu,” and he also dubbed himself as “DPR2.” Silk Road 2 Admin Thomas White Forfeits $667K in Bitcoin In April 2019, Bitcoin.com News … Read more

Deep Web Confusion: Ostensible Alphabay Admin ‘Desnake’ Claims the Darknet Market Has Returned

In mid-July 2017, the largest darknet marketplace (DNM) Alphabay went dark and patrons didn’t know if the administrators were busted by law enforcement or if it was an exit scam. Not too long after the site went dark, law enforcement disclosed that an organized police task force, from various jurisdictions, infiltrated Alphabay alongside the DNM … Read more