The Center for Cybercrime Studies directed by Dr. Marie-Helen (Maria) Maras, focuses on forms of crime where data, computers and networks are either the target of criminal activity or play a principal role in executing the crime.

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Dr. Marie-Helen (Maria) Maras is a Professor at the Department of Security, Fire, and Emergency Management and the Director of the Center for Cybercrime Studies at John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

The Center for Cybercrime Studies has joined Instagram to keep our audience updated on what goes on at the Center while we work to lead, coordinate, catalyze, and produce cutting-edge, multidisciplinary research on cybercrime and develop evidence-based solutions to counter

Decoding hidden darknet networks: What we learned about the illicit fentanyl trade on Alphabay

Using the AlphaBay DNM as a case study, we conducted mixed methods qualitative research. We scraped and analyzed data from the AlphaBay I2P website using, among other methods, content and social network analysis, to uncover hidden fentanyl networks.

Full Abstract

The opioid epidemic, impacted from the proliferation of fentanyl, has added impetus to the need to detect fentanyl, sources of fentanyl, and places where fentanyl and drugs adulterated with fentanyl are available. Many darknet marketplaces (DNMs) have rules that ban fentanyl. However, it is unclear how these affect the fentanyl market. Using the AlphaBay DNM as a case study, we conducted mixed methods qualitative research. We scraped and analyzed data from the AlphaBay I2P website using, among other methods, content and social network analysis, to uncover hidden fentanyl networks.Our research highlights the next evolution of darknet marketplaces– the migration of DNMs from Tor to I2P and the methods that can be used identify fentanyl networks, irrespective of where sites are: I2P, Tor, or multihomed on I2P andTor. Despite its ban in the Global AlphaBay Rules, our research revealed the sale of fentanyl on the AlphaBay DNM. Unlike previous studies, our findings predominantly revealed the covert sale of fentanyl on AlphaBay and predatory vendors selling illicit drugs, which unbeknownst to buyers, contained fentanyl. To a lesser extent, our findings identified the overt sale of fentanyl patches on AlphaBay. Although we examined only one DNM, the prevalence of the covert sale of fentanyl and the presence of predatory vendors underscores the importance of research that decodes the language of vendors who surreptitiously sell fentanyl or drugs adulterated with fentanyl or other illicit substances. The results of our research can inform strategies aimed at disrupting and dismantling DNM fentanyl networks.

Maras M-H, Logie K, Arsovska J, Wandt AS, Barthuly B. Decoding hidden darknet networks:What we learned about the illicit fentanyl trade on AlphaBay. J Forensic Sci. 2023;68:1451–69. https://doi.org/10.1111/1556-4029.15341

The article can be found here: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/share/author/BS2FPUJXQMJICXGWM4HF?target=10.1111/1556-4029.15341

The Center for Cybercrime Studies was originally founded by Dr. Douglas Salane, who is a Professor at the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at John Jay College of Criminal Justice. Dr. Salane served as the Director of the Center

Training and Technical Assistance Program (Clearnet and Darknet Spaces)

Description of Project

John Jay College of Criminal Justice and the National Cyber-Forensics and Training Alliance (NCFTA) are partnering to provide training and technical assistance (TTA) to criminal justice agents that covers the clearnet and darknet spaces within which criminals operate, the crimes they commit, their tactics and tools, and the ways these criminals can be identified, investigated, prosecuted, and adjudicated for their crimes.

Funding Source

U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance

Understanding the Intersection between Technology and Kidnapping: A Typology of Virtual Kidnapping

No longer limited by geographic locations and in-person interactions, criminals have leveraged information and communication technology to commit virtual kidnappings. In its simplest form, a virtual kidnapping is a cyber-enabled crime where criminals contact targets (falsely) claiming to have kidnapped a significant other, child, or other relative and threatening to cause death or serious bodily harm to the person unless a ransom is paid.

Funding Source

Faculty Scholarship grant, Office for the Advancement of Research at John Jay College