Dark Web AI Fraud for Hire Commercial: A criminologist found a video showing a criminal group stealing from the U.S. government during the pandemic. This group sells A.I. tools to other criminals. Cybercrime has become more complex.
The 58-second dark web movie features a character named “Sanchez.” He wears all black and talks through a black skeleton mask. Scary music plays in the movie’s opening as Sanchez discusses his involvement in selling fake Chase bank accounts and identities. He says he and a partner started this business four years ago. Now, they have around 28 people working in their office.
David Maimon, criminologist and professor at Georgia State University, found the tape. In a LinkedIn post, Maimon explained the video’s purpose as an update for concerned buyers who haven’t seen Sanchez on the black market recently.
These groups caused pandemic-related scams that cost the U.S. government a lot. They use generative A.I. to expand their criminal activities undetected by police. LexisNexis Risk Solutions’ CEO of Government Group, Haywood Talcove, said government theft perpetrators are often just the tip of the iceberg. Similar to 20th-century crime syndicates, these operations rely on a complex infrastructure.
Talcove compared these criminal groups to modern drug gangs as they provided fraud services on the dark web. Cybergangs from Russia, Nigeria, and China greatly impact hacking. The movie depicts the Mega Darknet Market, a major criminal organization.
The video shows groups selling “mule accounts,” fake bank accounts made with stolen names. They sell tools like “deepfake” and “generative A.I.” to other criminals. Talcove claimed this video proves organized organizations are behind many global low-level fraudsters.
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During the pandemic, foreign criminal groups used fraud to steal millions of dollars. But this is just a fraction of the trillions of dollars or more these groups could steal from the U.S. government in the coming year using A.I. These groups commit fraud and provide A.I. tools to crooks globally for sextortion scams, resulting in tragic outcomes like suicides.
Talcove highlighted the pandemic’s impact on criminal activities, shifting from traditional forms to unemployment fraud, SNAP fraud, and PPP fraud. Criminals on the front lines make good money, but fraud service groups make even more.
Before 2020, criminals like Al Capone and street gangs outsmarted the police. The U.S. government is a prime target, and A.I. technology enables criminals to rob agencies while staying hidden. Talcove stated that catching sophisticated groups like Mega Darknet Market requires the Secret Service, FBI, and Interpol collaboration.
The rise of sextortion complicates the scenario. Criminals manipulate the media, exploiting victims and causing distress. Several sextortion-related suicides were reported, mostly impacting males aged 10-17.
The video’s revelations highlight the urgent need for comprehensive law enforcement efforts against these criminal enterprises. As A.I. continues to evolve, so do criminal tactics, demanding a united front to counter the growing threat.