Darknet Markets, Forums, and Investigations

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March 8-9, 2023, or March 20-21, 2023

10am-4pm (EST) with an hour lunch break

This introductory course familiarizes participants with illegal darknet markets and associated forums, particularly the illicit goods and services offered, as well as successful law enforcement operations targeting these sites. Participants will gain practical knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs), including how to access the darknet, create anonymous accounts, enact operational security, and how to apply these KSAs to conduct darknet investigations.

At the end of the course, participants will be able to:

• Describe the types of darknet sites and their features and demonstrate how to locate darknet items
• Distinguish the differences between clearnet, darknet, and the deep web, and describe the activities occurring within these spaces
• Identify the tools used to access the darknet, create anonymous accounts, and enact operational security
• Apply the lessons and concepts from successful law enforcement case studies to demonstrate participants’ investigative skills and abilities

Upon successful completion of the course, participants will receive a certificate of course completion, and, upon request, can receive Internet Fraud Alerts (IFAs), as well as technical assistance from the NCFTA through investigative requests for information (RFIs).

Instructors:

Marie Helen Maras

Dr. Marie-Helen Maras is an Associate Professor and the Director of the Center for Cybercrime Studies at John Jay College.

Kaleigh Muko

Kaleigh is an Intelligence Analyst at the National Cyber Forensics and Training Alliance in Pittsburgh.

Brendan Lyle

Brendan is a Senior Intelligence Analyst at the National Cyber Forensics and Training Alliance in Pittsburgh.

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This course is funded by the U.S. Bureau of Justice Assistance 

The course is only open to U.S. state, local, tribal, and territorial law enforcement agencies, OIG, prosecutors, and judges.