Threat Actor: Yum (alias) | Yum
Victim: Individuals (trafficked) | trafficked individuals
Price: $15,000 – $60,000 USD
Exfiltrated Data Type: Personal identification and financial information
Key Points :
- The marketplace “Yum” facilitates human trafficking and exploitation.
- Short-term rentals priced between $800 and $2,000, while long-term arrangements can cost from $20,000 to $60,000 or more.
- Payments are made in cryptocurrencies, ensuring anonymity and complicating law enforcement efforts.
- Vendors verify their identity through video calls and masks to avoid detection.
- Several listings were found, including individuals priced at $39,999 and $15,000.
- The platform is involved in serious legal violations, including child exploitation and money laundering.
- Advanced methods of evasion, such as the use of forged documents and temporary addresses, are employed to facilitate illegal activities.
- The investigation underscores the need for international law enforcement collaboration to combat such networks.
Date: September 5, 2024
Prepared by: Press Konek Investigation Team
In early August 2024, the Press Konek Investigation Team uncovered a dark web marketplace engaged in highly illegal activities. This marketplace, operating under the alias “Yum (not the actual website name),” was found to facilitate trafficking and exploitation through a sophisticated network that maintains a veneer of legality while engaging in serious criminal behavior.
The investigation began with an anonymous tip about a shadowy online platform suspected of engaging in illicit activities. By August 5, 2024, the team confirmed the existence of this platform and its involvement in trafficking individuals for various illegal purposes. The team employed an investigation techniques to trace and analyze the platform’s operations.
The marketplace under investigation provides options for various illegal transactions, including:
Marriage Arrangements: Individuals from economically disadvantaged regions are offered marriage opportunities as a means of trafficking.
Short-Term Rentals: Individuals are available for short-term arrangements.
How It Works:
1. Request and Selection: Customers make specific requests for individuals. Vendors respond with photos to help clients choose.
2. Vendor Verification: Vendors use video calls and masks to prove they are not undercover agents, performing illegal actions to validate their authenticity.
3. Pricing Structure:
a. Short-term rentals are priced between $800 and $2,000.
b. Long-term arrangements can cost from $20,000 to $60,000 or more.
4. Payment Details:
Payments are made in cryptocurrencies, with no upfront deposit required; proof of funds is mandatory.
Escrow services are used to protect transactions.
The platform operates through an international network involved in various illegal activities. They manage logistics such as document forgery and travel arrangements to facilitate the trafficking process.
Client Guidelines:
1. The marketplace provides detailed procedures to maintain user anonymity, including:
2. Use of burner phones and prepaid SIM cards.
3. Cryptocurrencies for payments.
4. Deliveries to temporary addresses like hotels or rental properties.
Several sample listings found:
Name: E (an alias)
Description: Individual
Price: $39,999 USD
Date Listed: May 16, 2024
Name: V (alias)
Description: Individual from France
Price: $15,000 USD
Date Listed: May 16, 2024
The investigation revealed several legal violations:
Human Trafficking: The platform is involved in trafficking individuals for various illegal purposes.
Child Exploitation: There are indications that minors may be exploited.
Money Laundering: Cryptocurrencies are used to conceal the proceeds of illegal activities.
Forgery & Fraud: The platform utilizes forged documents for trafficking.
The dark web marketplace “Yum” represents a highly organized criminal network specializing in illegal activities. Its advanced methods for evading detection, including cryptocurrency transactions and anonymous communications, complicate efforts to dismantle the operation. The investigation highlights the need for extensive international law enforcement collaboration to address and close down such networks effectively.
Source: https://kukublanph.data.blog/2024/09/05/press-konek-operation-yum-yum/