Counterfeit Identity Documents on the Open and Dark Web

Jul 2020

Research Brief

Counterfeit identity documents are useful tools for various types of criminal and deviant behavior, including financial fraud and identity theft. While obtaining counterfeit identity documents were historically limited to individuals with connections to specialized providers, the growth of the Internet has widened offenders’ access to such documents. This analysis provides descriptive information on 1,648 products offered across 19 different counterfeit identity document vendors located on both Dark Web cryptomarkets and Open Web shops. The products’ average pricing, avenues of communication, and preferred payment systems used by vendors, among other details are discussed.

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