CYBERCRIMINALS have been selling social security numbers on the black market – here’s what you need to know.
On Tuesday, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) said it infiltrated an online marketplace that listed more than 20 million social security numbers for sale.
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The operation was carried out alongside the Department of Justice (DoJ) and the IRS, which all worked with local police in Cyprus and Latvia.
Dubbed SSNDOB, the black market organization comprised numerous websites that have for years operated to sell the personal information of individuals living in the United States.
Such sensitive information includes names, dates of birth, and Social Security numbers.
The FBI said that the SSNDOB Marketplace had currently listed the personal details of approximately 24 million individuals at the time they seized it.
In a statement, the DoJ revealed that the illegal operation had generated more than $19 million USD in sales revenue.
The extensive black market operation
Administrators of the SSNDOB advertised their services on dark web forums to get customers.
They also provided customer support, and regularly monitored the sites, including tracking when purchasers deposited money into their accounts, the DoJ said.
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Furthermore, the site-keepers employed “various techniques to protect their anonymity and to thwart detection of their activities.”
This included using unique online names, maintaining servers in different countries, and enforcing that buyers use cryptocurrency as payment.
The shut-down
On June 7, 2022, seizure orders were executed against four domain names of the SSNDOB Marketplace, including ‘ssndob.ws’, ‘ssndob.vip’, ‘ssndob.club’, and ‘blackjob.biz’.
The investigation was overseen by Assistant United States Attorney Rachel Jones, while asset forfeiture will be handled by Assistant United States Attorney Suzanne Nebesky.
“I applaud the extensive work and cooperation by our domestic and international law enforcement partners in bringing a halt to this global scheme,” said U.S. Attorney Roger Handberg.
“The theft and misuse of personal information is not only criminal but can have a catastrophic impact on individuals for years to come.”
How to protect yourself
If someone gets ahold of your Social Security number, they can essentially become you in the eyes of the government and the law.
They are able to collect tax refunds, benefits, and income, commit crimes, make purchases, set up websites, and buy residences, all in your name.
If you believe someone is using your Social Security number to work, get your tax refund, or anything else, contact the IRS online or call 1-800-908-4490.
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