A look into the darknet: an investigation by Social Links and DarkOwl

NEW YORK - Sept. 26, 2023 - PRLog -- Social Links, a leader in OSINT investigations, has partnered with DarkOwl, the industry's leading provider of darknet data, to explore some of the hidden corners of illicit online marketplaces. According to Chainalysis firm, darknet market revenues dropped from $2.6 billion in 2021 to $1.3 billion in 2022, mainly due to the shutdown of Hydra Market in 2022.

Darknet markets can be volatile due to exit scams, site retirements, and takedowns, but new places always emerge to seize opportunities. Our research found that, while "traditional" darknet markets like Ares, Nemesis, 2 Easy, and Bohemia, sell products ranging from drugs and digital fraud methodologies to counterfeit goods, other places like Organ City and Carne have their core business selling human organs.

Among the counterfeit goods, buyers and people suspected of evading the law can find a wide range of products, including credit cards, currency, gold, jewels, college degrees, passports, IDs, marriage and death certificates, private jets, and even rocket launchers.

Organ City darknet marketplace, the investigation found, had 146 transactions for an equivalent of $20K in BTC, with prices based on organ type. In their description, sellers claim to find donors, arrange locations, and offer medical assistance, while payments are usually in BTC. Our research found that, while numerous websites like Organ City primarily seem to assist with medical procedures, some others also, notably a site named "Carne" sell human organs and parts allegedly for "consumption".

To find out more, please visit www.sociallinks.io and www.darkowl.com.

About DarkOwl

DarkOwl is the industry's leading provider of darknet data. We offer the world's largest commercially available database of information collected from the darknet. Using machine learning and human analysts, we automatically, continuously, and anonymously collect and index darknet, deep web, and high-risk surface net data. Our platform collects and stores data in near real-time, allowing darknet sites that frequently change location and availability to be queried in a safe and secure manner without having to access the darknet itself. Customers are able to turn this data into a powerful tool to identify risk at scale and drive better decision-making.

About Social Links

Social Links is the industry's leader in OSINT (Open source intelligence). We assemble massive volumes of data from open sources including social media, messengers, blockchains, and the Dark Web to analyze and visualize a holistic picture for streamlining data-driven investigations. Social Links is a privately held American company with HQ in the US, offices in Miami, and Amsterdam, and an R&D center in Riga. We have actively participated in Europol training initiatives and collaborated with the United Nations, with a specific focus on fortifying global security efforts.