Fraudulent identity packages and documents sold over Darknet marketplaces are widely available and a growing source of criminal financial fraud, which can involve both private and government organizations in the United States. The liability for such fraud falls upon the organization and represents a significant source of financial loss – for example, in the US, consumers are only liable for $50 of properly reported fraudulent credit card charges as mandated by the Fair Credit Billing Act. Therefore, consumers should be encouraged to regularly monitor credit reports and employ identity theft monitoring services.

Binary Defense Counterintelligence analysts monitor Darknet criminal forums and markets to detect information relevant to our clients, and frequently observe these and other instruments of fraud offered for sale. Financial institutions operating ATMs should consider security practices to detect and prevent fraud from ATM skimmers, including anti-tampering protection, changing the ATM cabinet access lock from the default key, and regularly inspecting ATM installations. Businesses that rely on identifying clients for legal purposes should have processes in place to detect fraudulent identification documents.

https://www.justice.gov/usao-edca/pr/two-individuals-sentenced-conspiracy-charges-involving-sale-fraudulent-identity