Guilty: DeepDotWeb Owner Confesses

Uploaded on 2021-04-12 in GOVERNMENT-Law Enforcement, FREE TO VIEW

The US Department of Justice (DoJ) has said that Tal Prihar, has admitted to operating DeepDotWeb (DDW) alongside co-owner Michael Phan since 2013.  DDW was a portal for news and events surrounding the Dark Web where the co-owners of the domain received kickbacks for connecting buyers and sellers of illegal products. 

According to court documents, Tal Prihar, 37, an Israeli citizen residing in Brazil, owned and operated DDW along with co-defendant Michael Phan, beginning in October 2013. In addition to providing general information about the Darknet, DDW provided users with direct links to illegal Dark Net marketplaces, which are not accessible through traditional search engines. 

The DoJ claims that Phan and Prihar earned themselves over $8 million for providing direct links to marketplaces selling products including firearms, heroin, fentanyl, malware, and stolen data record dumps. The referral links included listings for AlphaBay, Agora, Abraxas, Dream, and Valhalla. 

To hide the kickbacks, which totalled roughly 8,155 Bitcoins (BTC), Prihar laundered the funds through cryptocurrency wallets and bank accounts registered in the name of shell companies. 

It’s not illegal to provide a directory to markets selling illegal things on the Dark Web. It’s another thing entirely if you make money off those sites, though. According to Europol, authorities believe that DeepDotWeb’s admins made millions of dollars in kickbacks from the Dark Web sites they referred people to.

These websites are not indexed on the clear web or by typical search engines. DDW was one of a number of resources that provided lists of active underground marketplaces, together with their hidden link addresses that were accessible via the Tor network. 

 Prihar has agreed to forfeit $8,414,173. The former website administrator has pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit money laundering and he faces a maximum penalty of up to 20 years behind bars. Sentencing is due to occur on August 2nd ans his accomplice Phan faces the same charge. Assistant Attorney General Nicholas McQuaid of the DoJ's Criminal Division said "This prosecution, seizure of the broker website, and forfeiture send a clear message that we are not only prosecuting the administrators of Darknet marketplaces offering illegal goods and services, but we will also bring to justice those that aim to facilitate and profit from them." 

In September 2020, US law enforcement, together with Europol and other agencies, launched a coordinated takedown of illegal Dark Web vendors leading to 179 arrests. The joint police Operation DisrupTor also included the seizure of over $6.5 million and approximately 500kg in drugs such as fentanyl, heroin, cocaine, and ecstasy.

US Dept. ofJustice:     Sophos:      Oodaloop:       ZDNet:   

You Might Also Read: 

Avoiding Arrest: Cyber Criminals Share Dark Web Secrets:

 

« How Do The Facebook & LinkedIn Data Leaks Impact Their Users?
N. Korean Hacking Group Is Targeting Security Researchers »

CyberSecurity Jobsite
Perimeter 81
Cyrin

Real Attacks. Real Tools. Real Scenarios.
Schedule a demo

Go Cyber

Training that transforms behaviours

Sign Up: Cyber Security Intelligence Newsletter

Directory of Suppliers

ManageEngine

ManageEngine

As the IT management division of Zoho Corporation, ManageEngine prioritizes flexible solutions that work for all businesses, regardless of size or budget.

MIRACL

MIRACL

MIRACL provides the world’s only single step Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) which can replace passwords on 100% of mobiles, desktops or even Smart TVs.

Jooble

Jooble

Jooble is a job search aggregator operating in 71 countries worldwide. We simplify the job search process by displaying active job ads from major job boards and career sites across the internet.

Resecurity

Resecurity

Resecurity is a cybersecurity company that delivers a unified platform for endpoint protection, risk management, and cyber threat intelligence.

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North Infosec Testing (North IT)

North IT (North Infosec Testing) are an award-winning provider of web, software, and application penetration testing.

CyberScout

CyberScout

Cyberscout delivers the latest cybersecurity education, protection and resolutions services. We also provide swift incident response services around the world.

CyberWarrior

CyberWarrior

CyberWarrior deliver training and consulting for some of the world’s top brands and also partner with national systems integrators to augment their teams with our expertise.

Cyber Discovery

Cyber Discovery

Cyber Discovery, the UK Government's Cyber Schools Programme, is a learning programme designed to give young people the opportunity to learn the skills needed to enter the cyber security profession.

Inter-American Cooperation Portal on Cyber-Crime

Inter-American Cooperation Portal on Cyber-Crime

The Inter-American Cooperation Portal on Cyber-Crime was created to facilitate and streamline cooperation and information exchange among government experts from OAS member states.

Balbix

Balbix

Balbix BreachControl™ is the industry’s first system to leverage specialized AI to provide comprehensive and continuous predictive assessment of breach risk.

Symantec

Symantec

Symantec delivers data-centric hybrid security for the largest, most complex organizations in the world – on devices, in private data centers, and in the cloud.

SECURITI.ai

SECURITI.ai

SECURITI.ai's PrivacyOps platform is a full-stack solution that operationalizes and simplifies privacy compliance using robotic automation and a natural language interface.

Anterix

Anterix

Anterix is focused on empowering the modernization of critical infrastructure and enterprise businesses by enabling private broadband connectivity.

Navisite

Navisite

Navisite is a combination of eight respected IT consulting and managed service providers that were brought together under the Navisite brand.

Cybaverse

Cybaverse

Cybaverse (formerly North Star Cyber Security) was founded to create the perfect blend of a Managed Security Service Provider (MSSP) and a Cyber Security Consultancy in one.

Microminder Cyber Security

Microminder Cyber Security

Microminder Cyber Security are innovators, advisors, strategists committed to solving your cyber security challenges.

MiC Talent Solutions

MiC Talent Solutions

MiC Talent Solutions provides recruiting, direct hire, augmented staff, and professional service contracting solutions for organizations searching for minority cybersecurity talent.

Barrier Networks

Barrier Networks

Barrier Networks are a Cyber Security Managed Service Provider that specialises in Network and Application security.

Adaptiva

Adaptiva

Adaptiva, the autonomous endpoint management company, delivers the fastest way to patch and manage endpoints at scale.

NOYB

NOYB

NOYB is a non-profit organization aiming to close the gap between privacy laws and the reality of corporate practice.

Applaudo

Applaudo

Applaudo specializes in helping the world’s most admired brands optimize their IT solutions, reduce delivery costs, and accelerate their digital transformation.