Most scams are not the original creation of an apprentice in the area with a lot of imagination, but well tested schemes that are transferred from one criminal to another through the web. Almost every aspect of cybercrime has been designed, and even sold like any other service you may think of. Like dinner in a box, Russian internet criminals have put together all the resources that a fraudster needs.

The black market online has guides that look just like those “start your own business” guide, and although the goals are not legal or nice, the truth is that the packages sold are well assembled and very practical.   Yes, anyone can be a criminal and earn money with an internet connection.

For instance, Russian dating scam packages include email templates written in English, advice on what to do when the victim asks certain questions, and other available resources on the web to be a successful scammer. “It would not be any surprise if Russian dating scammers even had forums to discuss the frequently asked questions and the issues that have popped while they were performing their duty”, says Nicholas Donkova, Director of Private Detectives at Russia PI.

How can criminals get away with these services?

Typically, we would think that something like selling romance scam packages can be tracked. The truth is that there are countless ways to cover the tracks and avoid being caught by law enforcement in Russia, or anywhere else in the world.  Identifying and locating criminals is not so easy.

Transactions in the black market are done in digital currency like bitcoins. These kind or currency is not controlled by a central authority and it is not a tangible good. Funds can be sent to anyone who has an Internet connection. Due to its anonymity, it is used for criminal activities such as laundering money, buying and selling illegal goods and services and transferring money to support criminal or terror activities.  Criminals are finding new ways to get paid online all the time.

Besides this, Russian online criminals use VPN -Virtual Private Networks- to connect to the web. Although VPNs are a great resource for those who want to maintain a secure connection and shield their browsing activity from prying eyes, it is also a major resource for criminals. Private networks hide the real location and origin of the information being exchanged, making things even harder for the police.

What kind of resources are available online for scammers?

Investigators in Russia have seen all sorts of things. There is a whole market available that includes very well written letters and email templates. Every piece of writing has been carefully written and edited to sound as real as possible, and to avoid any misunderstandings, gaps or doubts.

Entire databases with names and personal information of real people are out there, and every data leak in the U.S. or any other developed country just contributes to make these databases bigger. The information contained in those is used both to impersonate real people, as to know who to target.

Lists of possible victims have been depurated according to age, marital status and other characteristics that define how vulnerable they might be to fraud. There are all sorts of documents and forged documents available, including passports, certificates, etc. Not to mention tools to edit you own photos and documents in case you want to use your own.  Criminals are increasingly creative.

Scamming is becoming every day more automatized, and law enforcement is falling behind on a global scale.  There are millions and millions of victims every year who lost vast sums.  Users of the internet, especially of social media and online dating websites, should be aware that there are ways to reduce the risks. Verifying the people you meet online is critical, and it is a very useful method to avoid being a victim. Contact us today to get a professional background check in Russia!

C. Wright
© 2016 Russia PI™

© Copyright 2016 Russia PI.  All Rights Reserved.  This content is the property of Russia PI, LLC and is protected by United States of America and international copyright laws.