Dutch and American Cops Take Down Big Fake ID Ring

robot
Abstract generation in progress

Law enforcement from the Netherlands and the U.S. just crushed VerifTools. Pretty major bust. This online marketplace was selling counterfeit IDs for as cheap as $9 in crypto. They seized 23 servers during the takedown.

Looks like the operation was quite profitable. Federal investigators say it pulled in about $6.4 million overall. Dutch authorities think it was making around €1.3 million yearly. That's roughly $1.5 million. Kind of surprising how lucrative fake IDs can be.

The system wasn't overly complicated. Users uploaded passport photos, made up some personal info. The site did the rest. FBI agents actually bought a fake New Mexico license themselves during their investigation. Paid in cryptocurrency.

Fake IDs remain a big problem. U.S. laws don't mess around with this stuff. Get caught with one, you might face three years in prison. Fines can hit $10,000 for felony cases. Sometimes it's just a misdemeanor. Depends.

Law enforcement keeps getting better at spotting fakes. They have special tools now. These check for holograms, UV markings. The real IDs have these features. Counterfeits usually don't quite get it right.

This page may contain third-party content, which is provided for information purposes only (not representations/warranties) and should not be considered as an endorsement of its views by Gate, nor as financial or professional advice. See Disclaimer for details.
  • Reward
  • Comment
  • Repost
  • Share
Comment
0/400
No comments
Trade Crypto Anywhere Anytime
qrCode
Scan to download Gate App
Community
English
  • 简体中文
  • English
  • Tiếng Việt
  • 繁體中文
  • Español
  • Русский
  • Français (Afrique)
  • Português (Portugal)
  • Bahasa Indonesia
  • 日本語
  • بالعربية
  • Українська
  • Português (Brasil)