The FBI secretly operated a money laundering service on the dark web for nearly a year as part of an extensive undercover operation aimed at targeting cybercriminals, 404 Media reported.
Known as “ElonmuskWHM,” the service allowed drug traffickers and hackers to convert cryptocurrency into cash through a dark web marketplace called White House Market.
Criminals sent cryptocurrency to the service and received cash in return via mail, with a 20% fee charged for the transaction.
As reported by 404 Media, the FBI identified Anurag Pramod Murarka, a 30-year-old Indian national, as the operator behind ElonmuskWHM. Following this identification, the FBI coordinated his entry into the U.S. by approving a visa, resulting in his arrest and a sentence of more than 10 years in prison.
Instead of shutting down the operation immediately, the FBI continued running ElonmuskWHM for 11 months.
During this time, the operation provided crucial information, linking criminals to several cases, including drug trafficking in Miami, an armed robbery in San Francisco, and multiple hacking operations that caused millions in losses.
The undercover site also helped the FBI investigate the Scattered Spider hacking group, responsible for the cyberattack on MGM Resorts.
This is not the first time the FBI has run an undercover digital operation. Previously, the FBI ran “Trojan Shield,” secretly operating an encrypted phone company called ANOM that was used by criminal networks worldwide. That operation allowed authorities to monitor 11,800 devices across 90 countries.
The FBI also infiltrated the Hive ransomware gang, giving agents a front-row view of the group’s activities and allowing them to warn victims before attacks occurred.
