Content material warning: Due to the character of a number of the actions we found, this sequence of articles incorporates content material that some readers might discover upsetting. This contains profanity and references to medicine, drug dependancy, playing, pornography, violence, arson, and intercourse work. These references are textual solely and don’t embrace photos or movies.
Following on from the third chapter of our five-part investigation into what cybercriminals do with their income, we now look at numerous types of enterprise and revenue technology which might be, in threat-actor parlance, ‘black’ (unlawful).
We acknowledge that legality can range relying on jurisdiction. Nonetheless, the breadth and depth of those actions are such that now we have to categorize them by some means, and utilizing the menace actors’ personal classes is a logical if imperfect selection.
Key findings of Half 4
- As in our earlier studies, we recognized a variety of enterprise pursuits on this class (outright felony actions, dubbed ‘black’ on the boards)
- In some instances, the felony enterprise pursuits we found had been comparatively low-level: fraud, pyramid schemes, and faux items
- Nonetheless, different discussions appeared to narrate to extra critical felony exercise, together with counterfeit gold and forex, controlling prostitution, cultivating marijuana, tax evasion, and insider buying and selling
- We additionally famous that reinvesting in cybercrime might be a beautiful choice for menace actors with cash to spend. We noticed a number of funding alternatives and proposals regarding cybercrime
- In some instances, discussion board discussions revealed info and pictures that would probably be used to trace, geolocate, and/or establish menace actors.
Fraud and theft
Bots
We noticed a low-level fraud scheme involving the creation of a number of accounts to carry out “duties” underneath a distinguished firm’s rewards program. The menace actor suggested utilizing an “automation extension” to carry out the duties, and redeeming the income as present playing cards. In addition they supplied recommendation on avoiding the detection of a number of accounts.
Pyramid schemes
We noticed a number of threads regarding pyramid schemes and scams, together with:
- “A exceptional method that means that you can earn a considerable 3% curiosity per day in your base quantity…the complete funding and withdrawal course of is carried out in USDT [the Tether stablecoin]…probably permitting you to maintain your earnings with out the burden of taxes”
- An funding alternative in a pyramid scheme (i.e., to assist function the scheme, not an try and sucker discussion board customers into it)
- A number of makes an attempt to truly sucker discussion board customers into pyramid schemes/multilevel advertising packages – one “within the on-line coaching area of interest,” one other that the advertiser famous was “a well-known pyramid…but it surely actually works,” and an old school get-rich-quick scheme.
Determine 1: A menace actor tries to recruit different customers to an “associates program…[for] anybody who desires to earn cash promoting widespread instructional merchandise”
Artificial identities
We famous a number of guides on creating ‘CPNs’ (Credit score Privateness Numbers) to determine artificial identities (generally generally known as ‘ghosts’) to use for loans and bank cards, purchase automobiles, and launder cash – or to promote to individuals as a part of fraud campaigns.
Determine 2: A part of an in depth information on CPNs on a felony discussion board
Refunds
One menace actor described a low-level scheme to fraudulently declare refunds from sports activities attire firms, by claiming that deliveries didn’t arrive. The person outlined the scheme, offering recommendation on:
- The right way to behave on the positioning when ordering
- The optimum worth of products to order
- The right way to report the ‘failed’ supply
- The right way to socially engineer buyer assist employees
- The right way to combine official and fraudulent orders to keep away from “burning” your handle and account.
Determine 3: A menace actor outlines a low-level refund rip-off
Labeled adverts
One other menace actor supplied a information to a low-level rip-off on Avito (a Russian labeled adverts market), whereby customers put up fraudulent listings, obtain cash from a purchaser, however don’t ship the merchandise and as a substitute get the client banned from the platform. The put up contains recommendation on the scheme, create a beautiful itemizing, and set a worth.
Intercourse work
Laundering
In a thread itemizing a number of concepts for cash laundering, a menace actor recommended: “Recruit (actual or faux) escorts to ship you money of your personal cash after they declared their ‘revenue’ from intercourse work…the prostitute thought is within the Canadian context since prostitution is authorized to promote, not purchase.” One other thought from the identical person: “Faux you’re a hooker your self.”
In the same vein, a person claiming to be from Australia famous in one other thread that since prostitution is authorized there, that they had the thought of “pretending to be an escort to scrub money.”
Determine 4: A menace actor proposes pretending to be a male escort to launder cash
Controlling prostitution
A menace actor recommended making a “job website for escort ladies” – the place “critical escort companies…even brothels” can join with “girls who need to go to enterprise, however there isn’t any ticket there for the practice from the village or for the airplane to Dubai or the rest.”
Some customers picked minor holes on this plan (opponents, difficulties in promoting site visitors to the positioning), with one arguing: “Why such a trouble, if you happen to actually need to do pussy, you make webcam studios.”
Determine 5: A menace actor proposes making a “job website for escort ladies,” sparking a protracted dialogue about intercourse work
One person stated: “I’ve the chance to arrange my very own brothel in Sochi…the Sochi cops are negotiable and received’t take very a lot…However it’s a must to make investments a ton.”
In the identical thread, we additionally noticed the next disturbing remark:
The women will should be trampled down, instilled in them with the concept that they’re no one and nothing and solely underneath your safety can they by some means earn one thing. This will likely be particularly evident within the prostitution enterprise, the place the only and most conventional method of controlling feminine staff is to make them drug dependent.
Stolen and counterfeit items
Counterfeit gold
A menace actor sought a enterprise accomplice with “an energetic eBay vendor account” as a result of they “have a big provide of counterfeit gold and have been promoting it…the issue is…opening up new accounts.”
Determine 6: A menace actor seeks assist promoting “a big provide of counterfeit gold,” which they declare to have already been doing for some time
Pretend items
A menace actor sought recommendation on faux the nation of origin for cheaply purchased Chinese language items that they deliberate to promote on-line. Alongside comparable traces, we famous a scheme to create a web-based store and “promote excessive class fakes.” Different customers suggested them to “attempt to undergo moderation of merch as second hand…they won’t ask for invoices.” The identical person supplied in depth element on their very own experiences.
Historic artifacts
In by far probably the most weird thread we found, a menace actor claimed to have “discovered some pharaonic and coptic monuments [i.e., Ancient Egyptian artifacts]…solely two individuals find out about its location. We need to promote it, however we don’t understand how…to deal with the cargo and the proper place to promote in an public sale (black market).” The person uploaded two images of what seemed to be a sarcophagus mendacity on bubble wrap.
Determine 7: A menace actor claims to have “some pharaonic and coptic [sic] monuments” that they need to “promote in an public sale (black market)”
Some customers expressed curiosity in buying; others advisable technique of verifying age/authenticity. One person claimed that that they had been to Egypt for the same job and will put the sellers in contact with a official purchaser “who will purchase it instantly after his professional confirms.”
Medication
Hashish
One menace actor acknowledged that “now we have direct enterprise relations with an American firm that legally grows and sells marijuana within the US.” The person famous that the enterprise is in search of lead mills and traders, with lead mills getting 10% of revenue (“revenue is often $1000-$4000 per day”).
We additionally noticed a information on develop 25kg of hashish in 4 months. The person outlined prices, together with $7,000 for hydroponics, $1,500 for fertilizer, $12,000 to hire a home, and $1,700 a month for lighting. “The typical price of 25 kilograms of excellent grass wholesale is $50,000…promoting is simple and secure…by no means attention-grabbing to the cops – in courtroom you’ll have to show the actual fact of the sale.”
Determine 8: A menace actor posts a tutorial on rising hashish, the gear wanted, and expenditure
Medication and carders
As famous in the primary article on this sequence, we famous an admission from a menace actor that they’ve given cocaine and tablets to cybercriminals, in trade for stolen bank card particulars.
Determine 9: A felony discussion board person admits to giving cybercriminals “cocaine or tablets” in trade for stolen bank card particulars
Tax evasion
We noticed an in depth dialogue on tax evasion strategies, together with particular steerage on tax evasion versus cash laundering; utilizing “a corrupt, international financial institution” versus false reporting; hiring “specialised attorneys” and extra.
Determine 10: A part of an in depth dialogue on tax evasion on a felony discussion board
Insider buying and selling
One menace actor claimed to have an insider in a distinguished expertise agency, who advisable investing huge cash after “the corporate made some main modifications…they need to double their inventory worth in 12-16 months.”
Determine 11: A menace actor claims to have an insider inside a distinguished expertise firm
One other menace actor suggested others “to not gamble on the inventory market…getting inside data is the one method…if hacking teams give a heads up on which firm’s paperwork they’re going to leak you should buy put contracts on the corporate and revenue on inventory taking place.”
In the identical vein, one other person requested about shorting shares of firms affected by ransomware assaults, and puzzled if ransomware operators have thought of doing this. Most customers stated this was viable, though others had been extra uncertain (“You’ll entice regulatory authorities for insider buying and selling”).
In the identical thread, menace actors additionally mentioned different sorts of assault (DDoS and web site defacements), together with their potential impacts on inventory worth and whether or not it could be price shorting the inventory. A person recommended utilizing search engine optimisation, deepfakes, and AI-generated articles to drive down the inventory costs of attacked firms additional.
On one other thread, a menace actor claimed to “promote insider info properly upfront of the large strikes out there for some cryptocurrencies. I often work with funding firms, however a few of you will have an honest quantity of cryptocurrencies, and I consider that I might be of nice assist to you.”
Reinvesting in cybercrime
Throughout our analysis, we famous many menace actors asking their friends what they need to make investments their cash in, and replies comparable to “make investments it within the enterprise that introduced you this revenue. It’s apparent.” Reinvesting in cybercrime could also be engaging to menace actors who’ve ‘paid their dues’ and profited – they’ll spend money on a brand new undertaking in a well-known subject, and reap the rewards whereas being uncovered to much less threat.
Malware and phishing
We noticed a number of funding alternatives in in-progress/in-development malware and campaigns, together with an funding alternative ($1,000-2,000) in an Android botnet, with the flexibility to steal bank card data, spam contacts, ahead incoming calls, launch customized apps, and intercept incoming SMS messages. A screenshot was included.
We additionally famous:
- An funding alternative ($3,000-5,000) to open a retailer for botnet logs (i.e., stolen information from infostealers)
- An funding alternative ($5,000) in a Telegram phishing device/marketing campaign
- A imprecise proposal regarding an MT103 (a protocol utilized in SWIFT) staging server (“I’m in search of cooperation with a darkish internet developer…now we have a deal for 10 million {dollars}”).
Determine 12: A menace actor seeks funding to create their very own “botnet logs retailer”
Determine 13: A screenshot of a Telegram phishing platform, included as a part of a pitch to potential traders on a felony discussion board
DDoS
We noticed a chance (ROI: 30% of revenue) to spend money on a year-old DDoS-related undertaking (the person insisted that this was not a rip-off, pointing to their fame and lack of arbitration complaints, and the truth that they had been keen to debate circumstances privately).
SIM-swapping
We noticed an funding alternative (ROI: 20% of every cashout) in sim-swapping. “I’ve crypto logins and financial institution logins with cash, my final step is sim-swapping.”
Crowdfunding
One menace actor proposed launching a crowdfunding platform on Tor “for gray/black subjects.” Different customers seemed to be eager in precept, however famous that the platform would wish to each guarantee anonymity and forestall scams. One person recommended sensible contracts as a potential resolution.
Determine 14: A menace actor proposes a “darknet” crowdfunding platform for felony actions, likening the precept to Kickstarter
Counterfeit forex
A menace actor proposed a scheme whereby they would offer different customers with counterfeit US forex to launder, earlier than giving the OP a share. The OP recommended $400 (4 $100 payments) to begin, later rising to hundreds. The counterfeit payments allegedly had a number of serial numbers, watermarks, safety strips, optically variable ink, and handed the “pen take a look at” (a way to detect counterfeit payments through a particular ink), however didn’t work in ATMs and wanted to be aged and handled earlier than use.
One other person outlined a plan for counterfeit payments, and supplied particulars on their digital and bodily OPSEC measures. The latter included:
- By no means utilizing the payments in retail shops, solely at bodily meet-ups (e.g., Craigslist transactions)
- Going from metropolis to metropolis
- By no means utilizing cash for trivial issues like resorts, meals, gasoline
- Promoting the illicitly acquired gadgets in numerous nations
Determine 15: A menace actor goes into important element concerning their plan to distribute counterfeit payments
Doable assault
Lastly, we noticed a very disturbing thread, though it was (most likely intentionally) very imprecise. A menace actor requested the cryptic query: “Has anybody encountered or maybe heard of individuals being intimidated by voices? An individual is combined with some substance after which he begins to have extreme issues.”
Determine 16: A menace actor posts an uncommon query on a felony discussion board
One other person responded:
You should use a ‘reality serum’ (scopolamine or analogues, accessible on the darknet)…the individual himself will hand over the whole lot and let you know the whole lot. In actual life, I noticed a profitable theft utilizing scopolamine, the person did the whole lot he was requested to do – he took the paperwork and laptop computer out of the home, he withdrew cash from the ATM, he himself entered passwords in banking. Watch out about dosing.
Scopolamine (prescribed to handle, amongst different issues, nausea and vomiting brought on by movement illness or surgical anesthesia) is understood to have been used for theft, and allegedly additionally to facilitate kidnappings and sexual assaults.
Over the previous 4 articles, we’ve explored a big selection of enterprise pursuits, starting from the innocuous (digitizing VHS tapes and making a cell health app) to the downright felony (curiosity in working a brothel, counterfeit payments, rising hashish) and just about the whole lot in between. However what does this imply for the cybersecurity business, regulation enforcement, and society as an entire?
Within the concluding chapter of this sequence, we’ll look at the implications, challenges, and alternatives of menace actors shifting past the cyber kill chain.
