The dark web is used by many to make money, but on what exactly? Here are 8 ways people can make money on the dark web…
The Dark Web is as shady as it sounds, but using the Dark Web, also known as the ‘darknet’, itself isn’t illegal. It refers to content on the web that’s encrypted and whose IP addresses are hidden on purpose.
Despite the advantages of anonymity, those attempting to purchase illegal things, such as drugs, here doesn’t always work or mean you can get away it. The rise in drug offences on the Dark Web is creating more issues for areas trying to crack down on these seemingly accessible ways of buying drugs.
Many items bought off the dark web are seized at depots that receive them initially from the sellers, and this is just one way you may get caught. There are also ‘honeypots’ set up where law enforcement lure people using the Dark Web unlawfully.
Despite the risks involved, people still continue to buy and sell on the Dark Web. So, keep reading for eight things that are sold illegally there…
8 Things That are Sold Illegally on the Dark Web
- Criminals Stealing
You can hire thieves on the Dark Web to do your bidding for you, whatever that may be. These criminals can be hired to find ways to hack into products and items online and steal them on your behalf. Usually, you’d pay the thief a cheaper rate than what the product costs, i.e paying $200 for a thief to steal a product worth $400.
If caught, online thieves could face up to 10 years in prison, but rest assured these criminals know how to hide, and are likely to scam you rather than carry out what you may pay them for.
- Hiring Hackers
There are multiple reasons someone may hire a hacker on the dark web. It’s one of the most common services offered out there that makes a huge amount of money.
There are a lot of risks associated with hiring a hacker, including being hacked and scammed yourself. Types of hackers include:
- Personal attacks
- Changing Grades
- Website Hacking
- Digital Bank Heists
- Stealing Rewards Points
- Social Media Hacking
- Corporate Email Hacking
- Phone Hacking
- Stealing and Selling Identities
It might be no surprise after the number of illicit hackers that are on the Dark Web that you can also buy a new identity. Identity theft can be used a method to gain financial advantages, such as obtaining a better credit score, in order to gain financially or to cause disadvantages on others.
If found out, you could face between two to seven years in prison for identity theft, but this varies country to country.
- Indecent Images
Unfortunately, this is another popular way people make money on the dark web. The buying and selling of indecent pictures, often of children, is very illegal. If caught selling these images you can face up to 10 years in prison, and five if you’re caught in possession.
Indecent images include pictures of abuse, often fetishized for customers. One of the easier purchases people can make as it doesn’t include posting anything to someone’s home. However, there are plenty of honeypots amongst the images, trapping customers attempting to buy them.
- Counterfeit Money
The buying and selling of counterfeit money is extremely risky to do. You’re very likely to get scammed here, not to mention the honeypots online that attract buyers that make it traceable if you put in a home address to deliver to.
If caught using counterfeit money, you could face a hefty fine or even up to 20 years in prison in places like the US.
- Guns
Although guns can be bought on the dark web, it’s said to only add up to 3% of sales. They tend to be cheaper on there than other places, but are often a scam.
In places like the UK, it’s illegal to possess a firearm and you could expect a jail sentence like Peter Black in 2019, whose firearm was seized in Portsmouth after purchasing a gun from the dark web.
- Credit Card Numbers
Millions of credit card numbers are sold on the Dark Web every day, some for as little as $2. Online fraud tends to be cheaper than physically sending a credit card due to them being passed on virtually.
In December 2021, around 4.5 million card details were sold on the Dark Web with the average price ranging from $1 to $20.
- Hitmen
One of the more dangerous services available on the Dark Web is hiring a hitman to kill a specific person. As you can imagine, this is an extremely risky move to make as, if caught out, you could go to prison for life for soliciting a murder or attack.
It’s not just assassination these hitmen will carry out. Other forms of attacks include arson attacks (car and homes) and acid attacks. Costs can range from $1000 to $20,000.
Buying and selling on the dark web is just not worth the risk…
As you can see, the Dark Web is not a great place to be. Even if you’re using it to browse there is always a risk of seeing content that could land you in some trouble if traced back.
It’s also full of scammers that know there is absolutely nothing you can do about being ripped off when buying these illegal services and items on there.
If caught buying drugs online, there is also a huge risk of having this seized at the depot or being pulled up by law enforcement. Not to mention the numerous years in prison you could face for purchasing other services from the Dark Web.