Russia Takes Down 4 Carding Sites With Over $260 Million in Crypto Turnover
Law enforcement in Russia has blocked major sites on the dark web, including a carding market leader. The platforms have been seized amid ongoing investigations into hacking groups, with Russian authorities ramping up efforts to dismantle the cybercrime rings and detain their members. Interior Ministry of Russia Hits Stolen Credit Cards Market
The Ministry of Internal Affairs of the Russian Federation (MVD) has brought down four prominent websites operating on the dark web, blockchain forensics firm Elliptic has revealed. The sites have been blocked by Directorate “K”, MVD’s unit combatting computer-related crime.
The seized platforms are the Sky-Fraud forum, Trump’s Dumps, UAS Store, and Ferum Shop, which became the leading market for stolen credit cards after the largest marketplace in the niche, Unicc, was taken offline in January, the report details.
According to Elliptic’s estimate, the sites have collectively made more than $263 million in crypto sales denominated in bitcoin (BTC), ether (ETH), and litecoin (LTC) before they were shut down. Ferum accounts for the bulk of that amount with $256 million in bitcoin generated, or 17% of the carding market.
Trump’s Dumps, another website distributing compromised card data, has allegedly made around $4.1 million since its launch in 2017. Both sites were advertised on the on Sky-Fraud forum, where carding techniques and money laundering tips were among the main topics. Directorate “K” has apparently left a message in its source code, reading: “Which one of you is next?” [#Russia] SKY-FRAUD & FERUM, famous Russian #carding forums closed by Russian authorities.
Authorities left an easter egg on the code source saying “WHICH ONE OF YOU IS NEXT?”#cybercrime #takedown #infosec #banking pic.twitter.com/RbNTkWPHIc
— Soufiane Tahiri (@S0ufi4n3) February 7, 2022
The fourth blocked website, UAS Store, was a platform offering stolen remote desktop protocol credentials that cybercriminals use to gain access to victims’ accounts from other devices. These breaches have increased during the Covid-19 pandemic as more employees are now working from home. Since late 2017, UAS Store has made around $3 million in cryptocurrency.
Elliptic notes that the latest seizures have been executed after the previous top carding marketplace, Unicc, and its affiliate proxy market Luxsocks, became inaccessible in mid-January. The seizures also came after the subsequent arrest of Unicc’s suspected administrator by the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB). Researchers claim the crypto proceeds of the two platforms reached $372 million.
Meanwhile, the MVD has sought through a Moscow court the arrest of six unidentified hackers accused of “illegal circulation of means of payment.” Whether the group is linked to the closed-down dark web sites is not clear yet. Last month, FSB and MVD busted the notorious Revil ransomware group on a U.S. request, detaining 14 of its suspected members. Tags in this story arrests, Bitcoin, carding, cards, credit cards, Crypto, Cryptocurrencies, Cryptocurrency, dark web, darknet, Elliptic, ether, fsb, Hackers, hacking groups, Law Enforcement, litecoin, MVD, Revil, Russia, russian, seizures, sites, Theft, Websites
Do you think Russia will continue to crack down on dark web platforms and hacking groups? Tell us in the comments section below. Lubomir Tassev
Lubomir Tassev is a journalist from tech-savvy Eastern Europe who likes Hitchens’s quote: “Being a writer is what I am, rather than what I do.” Besides crypto, blockchain and fintech, international politics and economics are two other sources of inspiration. Trudeau Warns Truckers Government Will "Respond With Whatever It Takes," 2 Freedom Convoy Crypto Fundraisers Reach Goals NEWS | 1 hour ago Kenyan Central Bank Document Discusses Benefits and Risks Posed by CBDC — Public Asked to Comment NEWS | 10 hours ago
Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons Previous articleTechnical Analysis: AMP Surges, IOTX Lower After Friday’s Jump Next articleIntel to Develop Crypto Mining Accelerators, Claims Circuits Will Deliver ‘1000x Better Performance per Watt’ Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article. Read disclaimerShow comments More Popular NewsIn Case You Missed ItIndia Won"t Legalize or Ban Crypto at This Stage, Finance Minister Confirms
India"s finance minister has revealed the current status of crypto policy in India, including whether crypto will be legalized or banned in the country. The question surrounding the legitimacy of cryptocurrency was raised in parliament after the government announced that ... read more.McDonald’s Trademark Filings Hint at Fast Food Giant"s Intent to Produce Metaverse Restaurants Fitch Ratings Downgrades El Salvador Deeper Into Junk Status Citing Bitcoin Risks US Inflation Jumps to 7.5%, CPI Climbs at Fastest Rate in 40 Years, Citizens See Little Wage Growth RBI: Cryptocurrency Is a Big Threat to Macroeconomic and Financial Stability in India