Goldman Financial Service – TOR Scam Report (1)
Onion Link: http://2dnwnjmbw63vflnpchc53bkw5l5cyxwceatmquxkqk7iqerfpuhs7zyd.onion/
Scam Report Date: 2024/04/29
Client Scam Report Breakdown
Original Report Summary:
This scam report revolves around a fraudulent transaction where the client was duped after making a payment in Bitcoin (BTC) to a vendor offering various financial instruments and money transfer services through a dark web marketplace. The victim recounts purchasing verified PayPal accounts, prepaid credit cards, or Western Union transfers as advertised on the site. These listings promised fully documented, functional accounts and credit cards with substantial balances, advertised with features such as proxy support (Socks5) for added anonymity and privacy. Despite the victim making the payment in BTC, none of the promised products or services were delivered.
Citing the Original Scam Report:
In the report, the victim explains: “I purchased a PayPal verified account with a $1,000 balance for $69 via Bitcoin, but after completing the payment, I did not receive the account details.” The scam report also highlights the vendor’s promises of “30-days usage” for PayPal accounts, a claim that gave the buyer confidence in the product’s legitimacy. The victim may have been lured by the detailed descriptions and guarantees, such as the availability of MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number) for Western Union transfers and the delivery of fully documented credit cards with worldwide functionality. These promises served as a ploy to gain trust, but the entire operation was fraudulent, as the victim was left empty-handed after transferring BTC.
Defining Key Terminology:
Bitcoin (BTC): Bitcoin is a decentralized digital currency that allows peer-to-peer transactions without the need for a central authority or bank. It is the payment method used in this scam, and the anonymity associated with BTC made it challenging for the victim to track or recover the funds once the fraud was committed.
Socks5 Proxy: A proxy server that routes traffic through a third party to provide enhanced privacy. In the scam, this feature was falsely advertised to make the PayPal and credit card services appear more secure and attractive to users seeking discretion.
MTCN (Money Transfer Control Number): This is a tracking code issued for Western Union money transfers, ensuring that funds can be traced throughout the transfer process. The vendor fraudulently advertised providing MTCN numbers to mislead potential buyers into thinking the service was legitimate.
The key factor in this scam was the victim’s reliance on the anonymity and supposed reliability of these products, as well as the inherent difficulties in reclaiming Bitcoin once a payment is sent. This case underscores the risks of engaging in transactions on unverified platforms that promise lucrative returns or financial anonymity, often with little recourse if the deal falls through.
