The illicit trade of COVID-19 vaccines on the dark web

TL;DR

This study analyzes 194 dark web marketplaces until July 2021, revealing the presence of COVID-19 vaccines, fake proofs, and the pandemic's impact on illicit trade patterns, with a focus on vendor profiles and product trends.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive analysis of COVID-19 related illicit trade on dark web marketplaces, including vaccine listings, vendor behaviors, and pandemic-related shifts in product offerings.

Findings

250 vaccine listings including approved and fake products

Decrease in COVID-19 related products as legitimate supply increased

Recreational drugs most affected among traditional dark web products

Abstract

Early analyses revealed that dark web marketplaces (DWMs) started offering COVID-19 related products (e.g., masks and COVID-19 tests) as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic started, when these goods were in shortage in the traditional economy. Here, we broaden the scope and depth of previous investigations by analysing 194 DWMs until July 2021, including the crucial period in which vaccines became available, and by considering the wider impact of the pandemic on DWMs. First, we focus on vaccines. We find 250 listings offering approved vaccines, like Pfizer/BioNTech and AstraZeneca, as well as vendors offering fabricated proofs of vaccination and COVID-19 passports. Second, we consider COVID-19 related products. We reveal that, as the regular economy has become able to satisfy the demand of these goods, DWMs have decreased their offer. Third, we analyse the profile of vendors of COVID-19 related products and vaccines. We find that most of them are specialized in a single type of listings and are willing to ship worldwide. Finally, we consider a broader set of listings mentioning COVID-19 as proxy for the general impact of the pandemic on these DWMs . Among 10,330 such listings, we show that recreational drugs are the most affected among traditional DWMs product, with COVID-19 mentions steadily increasing since March 2020. We anticipate that our effort is of interest to researchers, practitioners, and law enforcement agencies focused on the study and safeguard of public health.