Security News > 2020 > November > Dark web: Underground forums remain a hotbed of COVID-19 scams
In closed forums on the dark web, criminals are trading vast databases of consumer information gathered via data breaches and phishing attacks, but also through readily-available government databases.
Already a marketplace for drugs, weapons, stolen bank details and leaked website databases, the dark web has now become a thriving underground community where individuals discuss and trade techniques for capitalizing on COVID-19.
"We even captured some communication on the dark web forums early on where they were discussing new opportunities in the COVID-19 situation. 'Let's monetize them' - they actually used that language."
In the course of its research, Trustwave has found bogus COVID-19 'cures' available on the dark web for as little as $20. Very often, these are purchased by individuals who then go out and sell them to other people seeking treatment for themselves or someone they know.
"That's another thing that's quite amazing - the trading of stolen data and hacked databases on the dark web."
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