Counterfeit money is not that uncommon on the deep web by any means. Due to the global appeal of these marketplaces, it has become significantly easy for criminals to buy and sell counterfeit euros, dollars, pounds, and other currencies. Bavarian police arrested one individual who used counterfeit produced on the deep web and has been sentenced to probation.
Counterfeit Currency On The Deep Web Is A Real Threat
Contrary to what most people may want to believe, regular currencies are the bread and butter of global crime. Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, while often used as a payment method on darknet markets, is no threat by any means. Instead, traditional finance continues to facilitate crime on a global scale.
Two men were arrested for dealing in counterfeit euros, all of which had ties to the deep web. Apparently, they had set up shop in a garage where they produced the counterfeit bills. However, a third person was arrested in the process, who ordered counterfeit euros from the darknet to buy drugs and feed his narcotics addiction.
Interestingly enough, counterfeit money can be purchased with relative easy, at very low prices. One 50 euro bill would cost buyers 7 euros, which is next to nothing. One could argue customers get what they pay for, and one can never be sure about the “quality” of counterfeit euros. Some rumors mention he also used fake euros to purchase Bitcoin, although that has not been confirmed at this stage.
This drug addict was eventually caught when trying to use the counterfeit euro bills at a grocery store in the region. While it was not the first time he attempted to do so, someone noticed something was wrong with the bill quality itself. Additionally, European stores are cracking down on fake bills, particularly those denominated in values above 20 euros.
It didn’t take long for him to crack under pressure during the investigation. Police officials quickly learned he purchased the counterfeit notes from the darknet. His cooperation resulted in a lenient sentence, which puts him on probation for two years. For a 25-year-old, this “slap on the wrist” will hopefully set him back on the right path of doing things legally in the future.
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