In partnership with the German police, Europol has managed to dismantle Manson Market, a black market specializing in the resale of compromised data. Authorities indicate that the platform "allowed thousands of users to purchase stolen data", which was notably sorted by region.
With the data purchased on the criminal site, hackers were able to "conduct targeted frauds with greater efficiency". Phishing attacks come to mind, for example, whose effectiveness is essentially based on the amount of data in the hands of cybercriminals.
Two years of investigation into Manson Market
According to the Europol press release, the investigation began “in the fall of 2022” following “reports of fraudulent phone calls in which scammers impersonated bank employees to extract sensitive information”. The police quickly discovered that the information behind the scams came from Manson Market. Europol describes the platform as “a central hub for trading in illegally obtained information”.
In the process, law enforcement identified “a network of fake online stores” designed to suck up consumer data. This data, once collected, was resold on Manson Market, "generating significant profits" and fueling other cyberattacks.
50 servers seized and two arrests
At the end of the investigations, investigators were able to seize 50 computer servers and get their hands on "more than 200 terabytes of digital evidence". This information could allow the police to trace the sellers and buyers who frequented the black market. On the warning posted on the seized website, the police also warn that "all transactions, communications and user information associated with this site are now in the hands of law enforcement".
Finally, Europol arrested two individuals suspected of having operated Manson Market. The two suspects, aged 27 and 37, were arrested in Germany and Austria and are in pre-trial detention.
The fall of Manson Market follows several police operations against black markets specialising in the sale of data. A few days ago, the German police brought down Crimenetwork, the largest German-speaking black market. A few weeks earlier, PopeyeTools, another leading platform for cybercriminals looking for compromised data, was shut down following a major FBI offensive.
Source: Europol
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