VerifTools Fake ID Operation Dismantled by Law Enforcement

Authorities say VerifTools sold fake driver’s licenses and passports worldwide, enabling fraudsters to bypass KYC checks and access online accounts.

Law enforcement in the US and the Netherlands on Thursday announced the seizure of domains and servers associated with VerifTools, one of the largest marketplaces for fraudulent identification documents.

As part of the operation, the FBI seized two domains and one blog associated with VerifTools, while the Dutch police seized two physical servers and 21 virtual servers hosted at a data center in Amsterdam.

The marketplace, the US Department of Justice says, was used to sell counterfeit identification documents, including driver’s licenses and passports, that allowed individuals to bypass identity verification systems, assume other people’s identities, and access online accounts.

According to the DoJ, the FBI started investigating VerifTools in August 2022, upon learning of a conspiracy to use stolen identities to access cryptocurrency wallets. Undercover agents ...