Federal authorities have seized two online marketplace domains and a blog that were used to sell counterfeit identity documents, according to an announcement from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico. The platforms, operated under the name VerifTools, produced and distributed fake driver’s licenses, passports, and other identification materials that could be used to circumvent security checks and access online accounts without authorization.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) began its investigation in August 2022 after uncovering a scheme involving stolen identity information to access cryptocurrency accounts. According to investigators, VerifTools offered fraudulent identification documents for all 50 states and several foreign countries. These items were available for as little as nine dollars, with payments accepted in cryptocurrency.
During the investigation, FBI agents used the VerifTools site to create and purchase counterfeit New Mexico driver’s licenses using cryptocurrency. Authorities have linked approximately $6.4 million in illicit proceeds to transactions on the VerifTools marketplace.
“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 FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office led the investigation with support from the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs. The effort also involved collaboration with prosecutors and investigators from multiple jurisdictions including the District of New Mexico, Eastern District of Virginia, Dutch National Police, and Netherlands Public Prosecution Service.
