A transnational cybercrime investigation conducted by the US Department of Justice has successfully dismantled the xDedic dark web marketplace and charged and sentenced several individuals involved in the criminal organizations.
Description
The investigation concluded that the marketplace facilitated fraudulent activities totaling over $68 million and offered more than 700,000 compromised servers for sale [3]. Specializing in selling illegal login credentials and personally identifiable information [1], such as Social Security numbers and birthdates [4], xDedic affected at least 150,000 individuals in the United States and 8,000 in Florida alone [4].
The administrators of xDedic [1] [5], Alexandru Habasescu and Pavlo Kharmanskyi [1] [4] [5], have been sentenced to 41 and 30 months in prison [4], respectively [1] [2] [4] [5]. Dariy Pankov [1] [2] [4] [5], a top seller on xDedic [4], has been sentenced to 60 months in federal prison for listing over 35,000 compromised servers and generating over $350,000 in criminal proceeds. Allen Levinson [1] [2] [4] [5], a prolific buyer [1] [4], targeted US-based accounting firms and has been sentenced to 78 months in federal prison for defrauding over $60 million from the government.
Out of the individuals charged, 12 have already been sentenced [3], five are awaiting sentencing [3] [4], and two are awaiting extradition from the United Kingdom [3] [4]. The investigation also led to the arrest and extradition of individuals from different countries [1]. Close cooperation with law enforcement authorities in several countries was crucial in the investigation and prosecution of these individuals.
Conclusion
The dismantling of the xDedic dark web marketplace and the sentencing of those involved have had significant impacts. The marketplace’s fraudulent activities [3], totaling over $68 million [3], have been disrupted, and the compromised servers [2], which numbered over 700,000, are no longer available for sale. The sentencing of the administrators, top seller [4], and prolific buyer sends a strong message that cybercrime will not be tolerated.
However, the investigation also highlights the need for continued vigilance and cooperation among law enforcement authorities to combat transnational cybercrime. The fact that individuals from different countries were involved underscores the global nature of this issue. Efforts to strengthen international cooperation and information sharing will be crucial in mitigating future cybercrime threats.
In conclusion, the successful dismantling of the xDedic dark web marketplace and the prosecution of those involved demonstrate the commitment of the US Department of Justice and its international partners to combat cybercrime and protect individuals from the devastating impacts of such activities.
References
[1] https://www.irs.gov/compliance/criminal-investigation/ninteen-individuals-worldwide-charged-in-transnational-cybercrime-investigation-of-the-xdedic-marketplace
[2] https://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/19-xdedic-cybercrime-users-admins/
[3] https://cyber.vumetric.com/security-news/2024/01/05/us-charged-19-suspects-linked-to-xdedic-cybercrime-marketplace/
[4] https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/doj-wraps-xdedic-dark-web-market-case-19-charged-worldwide-a-24045
[5] https://storage.googleapis.com/qurium/peoplesgazette.com/u-s-convicts-10-nigerians-over-transnational-cybercrime-in-xdedic-marketplace.html
