Federal authorities have seized two online marketplace domains and a blog used to sell fake identity documents to cybercriminals around the world, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. The sites, operated under the name VerifTools, produced and sold counterfeit driver’s licenses, passports, and other identification documents that could be used to bypass identity verification systems and gain unauthorized access to online accounts.
The FBI began its investigation in August 2022 after uncovering a scheme involving stolen identity information being used to access cryptocurrency accounts. Investigators found that VerifTools offered counterfeit IDs for all 50 U.S. states as well as several foreign countries. These documents were available for as little as nine dollars and could be purchased using cryptocurrency.
As part of their investigation, FBI agents generated and bought fake New Mexico driver’s licenses through the VerifTools marketplace, paying with cryptocurrency. Authorities have identified approximately $6.4 million in illicit proceeds connected to the operation.
“The internet is not a refuge for criminals. If you build or sell tools that let offenders impersonate victims, you are part of the crime,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison. “We will use every lawful tool to disrupt your business, take the profit out of it, and bring you to justice. No one operation is bigger than us together. With our partners at every level of law enforcement we will protect New Mexicans and defend those who stand up for our community.”
"The removal of this marketplace is a major step in protecting the public from fraud and identity theft crime," said Philip Russell, Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI Albuquerque Division. "Together with our partners, we will continue to target and dismantle the platforms that criminals depend on, no matter where they operate."
The announcement was made by Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Acting Special Agent in Charge Philip Russell of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office.
The case was investigated by the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office with assistance from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The Justice Department also worked closely with investigators and prosecutors from multiple jurisdictions including agencies in New Mexico, Virginia, and law enforcement officials in the Netherlands.
