Buy Driving License on the Dark Web
Hundreds of fake identity documents are available for sale on the Dark Web. This includes counterfeit driver's licences passports, passports and forged professional certificates like IFAP certifications for health and safety professionals.
On the Dark Web, a hacker known as NSA has affixed 229 000 US driver's licence data available for purchase. The data includes dates of birth, driving offenses and fines.
What is a driving license?
A driver's licence is a legal document that allows a person to drive motorized vehicles on public roads. It's also a form of identification that reveals the personal information of the holder. The information is usually displayed on the front of the card as an image that is accompanied by an alphanumeric number, while the back side displays additional information like endorsements and restrictions. The most common type of driver's license is the one that allows drivers to operate passenger cars which is formally referred to as Class D licenses. There are Article of specialized and commercial driver's licences. Certain states also provide junior driver's licenses, which include additional restrictions for new and inexperienced drivers, e.g. weight limits for lighter weights or driving curfews.
A stolen driver's licence can be used to commit a variety of crimes such as identity theft and money laundering, as well as human trafficking. The information and photo on the license could be used to impersonate victims in a variety of situations that include applying for credit or signing contracts.
In the United States, a driver's license is a government-issued identification card that lists a person's name, date of birth, gender, and address. The card also contains the bearer's signature and photo. In the past, a lot of driver's licenses contained the bearer's social security number but this practice is now banned due to security concerns.
Moreover, some states issue enhanced driver's licenses that grant citizenship in addition to driving privileges and are valid to cross into the US from Canada, Mexico or the Caribbean. These licenses require an authentic passport or other documents to prove citizenship. Criminals are able to easily acquire fake versions of these types of documents, because they are typically sold on the dark web. In fact counterfeit Australian IDs rank among the most frequently-listed and sold documents on marketplaces on the dark web according to research conducted by a professor at a prestigious university.
What are the risk of losing a driver's licence?
Scammers can make use of your stolen identity to commit a number of crimes, including fraudulent driver's licenses. They can create fake licenses using your photo and name, or even take a photograph of someone else to pretend to be you. These licenses can be used to commit fraud using credit cards and mail fraud as well as other financial crimes.
In one instance hackers uploaded 290,000 driver's license data on the Dark Web for sale. The dump contained details like dates, driving violations fines, full names, address, ZIP codes of states telephone number, email address. The hacker claimed that he gained the data via a breach of the network systems of Louisiana local government agencies.
Criminals can also forge other documents like utility bills or passports using your driver's license number. These false documents can be used to obtain credit, bank accounts, and loans in your name. These fake documents could also be used fraudulently to get benefits such as unemployment or welfare benefits.
Reporting your lost or stolen license as soon as you can is the best way to safeguard yourself. This will leave a paper trail in the event you have to clear your name for any reason down the road. It's important to monitor your credit reports on a regular basis and consider using a company like HelloPrivacy which offers identity theft prevention. The service examines the Dark Web for your sensitive PII and informs you when it's discovered, and asks for the removal of your data broker accounts.
Other steps you can take to help protect yourself from hackers include changing your passwords and enabling two-factor authentication for all of your online accounts. You can also use a password management program to create and store your passwords in a secure location. Sign up for the free USPS digital monitoring service and be notified whenever someone changes their address under your name. You should consider an electronic travel wallet with RFID blocking technology. This will help prevent the theft of your driver's licence and other personal information.
How can I protect myself in the event that my driver's license is stolen or lost?
You must immediately notify the Department of Motor Vehicles if your license is lost or stolen. This will help stop criminals from using your personal information to steal your identity and commit crimes using your name. You'll also need to notify the credit card companies and financial institution to report your theft and request to have your account frozen. You should also put a security lock on your credit bureaus (Experian Equifax and TransUnion) to stop criminals from opening new credit lines under your name.
Criminals can use the number and image of your driver's licence to create fake IDs. They can then sell it on the dark web, or give it to others who commit crimes involving identity theft. This type of fraud can cause unauthorised charges to your bank account, incorrect traffic violations and arrest warrants, a tarnished driving record, as well as serious financial or legal issues.
In some states you can obtain a new driver's licence through filing a police complaint. The department of motor vehicle will give you directions on how to proceed. However, in some cases the department may ask you to submit an original copy of your police report or other documents to prove that your license was not stolen by a thief.
The other main way to protect yourself if your driver's license is stolen or lost is to take proactive steps to secure your personal information online. Begin by using a dark-web scanner to see if your personal information was exposed. Then, implement strong security measures for your smartphone and computer. These include password manager apps Two-factor authentication (2FA) and smart alerts that notify you of suspicious activities.
Despite these precautions it's not a assurance that your driver's licence will not be stolen by a criminal hoping to make money from it. Make sure you sign up for identity theft insurance to protect your PII and make sure it's not available to criminals. Aura's top-rated security will keep track of your PII and help you report it to authorities if it's compromised. Sign up today for a free trial to learn more about how Aura can safeguard you.
How do I know whether my driver's license has been stolen?
The driver's license of an individual is a valuable piece of information for criminals engaged in a variety of identity fraud. A stolen license could be used to commit fraud, such as change of address fraud, reroute physical mail to an unapproved address, and more. Criminals may make use of a stolen license to pretend to be someone else when they commit serious crimes or evading the police.
In this way stolen driver's license information is a highly sought-after commodity on the dark web. A hacker known as "NSA" has recently put up 290,000 US driver's license records for sale on the dark web. The records included dates of birth, driving violations, fines, full names addresses, addresses, states, zip codes and telephone numbers. The hacker claims to have gained access to the data after gaining access to the network systems of Louisiana localities.
The stolen ID information is also useful to criminals who wish to cash counterfeit checks or open credit accounts in the victim's name. Criminals with outstanding warrants to arrest them can use stolen ID to avoid arrest and avoid police. This is the reason it's important for everyone to ensure that their personal information is not available on the dark web.
Signing up for an identity protection service is the first step towards safeguarding your personal information. A service that safeguards you from identity theft will search the dark web for your personal information, including your driver’s license, and notify you when they discover it. They can help you recover your identity in the event that it has been compromised.
Another way to protect your personal information is to apply an orderly freeze on your information with the three major credit bureaus. Credit freezes stop criminals from opening lines of credit under your name and safeguard your existing accounts. In the end, it's recommended to purchase a password manager and set up two-factor authentication (2FA) on all of your online accounts.
You should inform the Department of Motor Vehicles in your state if your driver's license is lost or stolen. You may have to pay a fee for a replacement license, depending on the laws of your state and whether the original license expired or not. It is also recommended to contact the police to file a report. Keep a copy of the report for your records.