On April 4, 2020, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) announced a major victory in its efforts to combat online fraud and data breaches. At the center of the case was the prominent criminal organization, BreachForums, a forum for buying and selling stolen data, credit card numbers, hacking tools, and other illegal goods and services.
The FBI found that BreachForums had been active since 2014 and was known to many criminals as a “go-to source” for illicit activities. The organization also had more than 1,000 registered members and over 100,000 posts.
Among its members was co-founder and administrator, Marcus Hopkins. The FBI had been tracking Hopkins’ activities since 2016 and compiled evidence from online searches, social media, and open source intelligence.
When it came time for the FBI to actually make an arrest, it turned to an unlikely source of assistance: a BreachForums member and informant known as “TheGrifter.” Working with TheGrifter, the FBI was able to enter Hopkins’ residence on April 3 and make an arrest, seizing computers, phones, and other digital evidence.
According to the FBI, Hopkins not only administered the forum, but also sold stolen financial information. He has been charged with violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act and the Identity Theft and Assumption Deterrence Act, and faces up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
The FBI’s success in this case is yet another example of their ever-growing ability to track down criminals in the so-called “dark web.” As technology continues to evolve and make our lives easier, it also provides criminals with new and innovative ways to commit crimes. The FBI, however, is constantly adapting and utilizing every available resource to combat cybercrime and protect the public.
