How To Buy Drugs On The Dark Web

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A hard truth for parents to digest is that buying illegal drugs online is remarkably easy for teenagers today. In the past before the prevalence of technology, if a teenager was home in their room, a parent could believe they were safe and avoiding trouble. However, now with teenagers having access to smartphones and the internet, they can be exposed both the positives and the negatives of what the digital world has to offer.

Understanding the Dark Web

The market is so huge, in fact, that online drug sales average at about $300,000 – $500,000 per day, meaning that thousands of people are purchasing illegal substances through the internet on a regular basis. These are people that do not have a supplier or personal drug connections (likely a result of their young age), that may not have a prescription, or simply do not want to meet a drug dealer in person. The internet allows teens to buy drugs easily and receive them efficiently, without ever having to encounter the dangers a person would through a face-to-face sale. While cryptomarkets have grown in recent years, their future is entirely dependent on a high success rate in order to increase their pool of participants. It has been shown in previous research that a rise in failed transactions is most likely accompanied by a rise in disputes as well as a potential loss of trust between vendor and buyer (Kamphausen & Werse, 2019).

• Those suppliers kept using the same IDs for years to gain reputation and familiarity from buyers.
• The darknet is a part of the internet that’s hidden to popular search engines like Google.
• A large portion of the alcohol (and marijuana in states where it is legal) that teenagers consume is originally obtained from bars and shops using a fake identification card.
• Instead of visiting questionable locations or trying to find a connection in your neighborhood, you can buy internet drugs while sitting at your dining room table or desk.
• Our analysis of a single day of drug adverts on Dream Market values the total vendor market for MDMA, heroin, cocaine and cannabis – the four main categories – at £191m over 37,298 adverts.
• All this activity, this vision of a bustling marketplace, might make you think that navigating the dark web is easy.

The dark web is a subset of the deep web that is intentionally hidden, requiring a specific browser—Tor—to access, as explained below. No one really knows the size of the dark web, but most estimates put it at around 5% of the total internet. Again, not all the dark web is used for illicit purposes despite its ominous-sounding name. Verbowski admitted using cryptocurrency and cash from October 2019 to August 30, 2021 to buy bulk quantities of counterfeit generic alprazolam, an anti-anxiety drug, and other prescription pills and resell them. Verbowski’s source bought drug ingredients from China and used a pill press and stamps to mimic the pill markings used by manufacturers licensed and approved by the U.S.

Buying drugs online allows consumers to order from a smorgasbord of narcotics, delivered to the door via the postal system. From opioids and marijuana to crack, heroin, and fentanyl, it’s a porous buyer’s market. As alleged, defendant Edison Hernandez was a highly rated vendor of illegal narcotics on Silk Road, AlphaBay, Dream Market and Wall Street Market. From January 2013 until April 2019, Hernandez advertised and sold heroin and cocaine to customers in the United States through these dark web marketplaces. In the quantitative questionnaire, we applied a trust scale of 21 items developed based on previous research results on legal and illegal online purchase transactions. These empirical studies focused on the trust factors in online purchasing, which consumers considered indispensable for safe online shopping.

The dark web is a part of the internet that is not indexed by traditional search engines. It contains a wide range of illegal activities, including the sale of drugs. Many users turn to this platform for various reasons, which often include privacy and anonymity.

In addition, the most recent year-end funding bill included a measure backed by Senator Hassan and Congressman Pappas to extend fentanyl analogue scheduling, in order to keep criminals from using loopholes to traffic deadly opioids. The Senator successfully worked to secure her bipartisan measure in the 2021 year-end funding bill to hold countries such as China accountable for facilitating America’s fentanyl-fueled substance misuse crisis. Senator Hassan also worked with her colleagues to pass into law the bipartisan INTERDICT Act, which has provided critical tools to Customs and Border Protection to help detect and intercept fentanyl and other illegal synthetic opioids. “The opioid crisis is getting worse, and communities across TX-23 and the nation are faced with the repercussions,” said Congressman Gonzales. “The Dark Web Interdiction Act would give law enforcement officers the resources they need to help combat the rising trend of dark web drug dealers who have used the platform as a way to peddle illegal drugs across the United States. I am proud to once again co-lead this bipartisan effort to help law enforcement apprehend and convict contraband dealers across the dark web.”

Risks Involved

Before considering how to buy drugs on the dark web, it’s essential to understand the risks involved:

In legal commerce, this is only relevant in terms of storing and managing data related to the purchase and the customer (Ilmudeen, 2019). Some online shoppers are only willing to provide their personal data at the point when they order the products but refuse to register and ask the seller to delete all information about them. Stealth becomes more significant in illegal than in legal commercial transactions, where invisibility can prevent exposure or embarrassment (Aldridge & Askew, 2017).

Okparaeke used the dark web marketplace AlphaBay to peddle his drugs between 2016 and 2017, engaging in over 7,000 sales of synthetic opioids. Whatever your role in infosec, you probably know by now that dark web marketplaces offer budding and expert hackers various tools, data, credentials, ransomware, and malware for sale, with payment usually made via cryptocurrency. It’s in this underground landscape of shady buyers and sellers where dark web threats often lurk undetected until it’s too late and you suffer a breach. One of the main illegal activities carried out on the dark web is the online sale of black-market drugs. Instead of visiting questionable locations or trying to find a connection in your neighborhood, you can buy internet drugs while sitting at your dining room table or desk.

• Legal Consequences: Purchasing illegal substances can lead to severe legal repercussions.
• Health Risks: The quality and safety of drugs on the dark web are highly questionable.
• Scams: Users may encounter fraudulent sellers, leading to loss of money.
• Security Threats: Using the dark web can expose your personal information and internet habits to cybercriminals.

Steps to Buy Drugs on the Dark Web

For informational purposes only, here’s a general outline of the procedure involved in buying drugs on the dark web:

1. Accessing the Dark Web

To safely access the dark web, you will need:

• Tor Browser: Download and install the Tor browser, which allows anonymous browsing.
• VPN: Use a Virtual Private Network for an additional layer of security.

2. Finding Marketplaces

Numerous marketplaces exist on the dark web where drugs can be purchased. Popular options include:

• Silk Road (historical reference)
• Dream Market
• Wall Street Market

It’s important to research and read reviews about these marketplaces to determine their reliability.

3. Creating a Secure Identity

Maintaining anonymity is crucial when buying drugs on the dark web. Consider the following:

• Use Pseudonyms: Avoid using your real name or personal emails.
• Create Secure Wallets: Use cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin for transactions to maintain anonymity.

4. Verifying Sellers

Before making a purchase, verify the credibility of the seller:

• Check feedback and ratings given by previous buyers.
• Confirm their reliability through communication.

5. Making the Purchase

Once you have chosen a seller and verified their legitimacy, go ahead with the purchase. Remember to:

• Follow the seller’s instructions carefully.
• Use a secure payment method through cryptocurrencies.

FAQs

What is the dark web?

The dark web is a part of the internet that requires specific software to access and is often associated with illegal activities.

Is it safe to buy drugs on the dark web?

Buying drugs on the dark web poses significant risks, including legal issues, health dangers, and the potential for scams.

How do I protect my identity while browsing the dark web?

Utilize a VPN, avoid using identifiable information, and employ cryptocurrencies for transactions.

What should I do if I get scammed?

If you fall victim to a scam, report it to the appropriate authorities and consider taking steps to secure your online identity.

Conclusion

Purchasing drugs on the dark web is fraught with risks and challenges. The potential legal, health, and security issues cannot be overstated. Exercise caution and consider the consequences before proceeding down this path.