‘Ripper’ service helps cybercriminals identify scammers

Threat intelligence firm, Digital Shadows, has identified a new service called Ripper, which cybercriminals use to protect themselves from being ‘ripped off’ by their fellow criminal cohort.

Ripper has recently identified the 1,000th culprit that has failed to come up with the goods. Ripper.cc was formed in June 2016 and is the only known service to keep a database of known ‘rippers’ – those who rob others on the dark web and other criminal marketplaces. Digital Shadows has been tracking the service since its inception.

“Ripper.cc is another example of the industrialisation of hacking and the growing professionalism of cybercrime. If such a service becomes successful, it enables cyber criminals to significantly reduce the risks associated with rippers and the overall cybercrime economy can become more profitable allowing for further growth,” said Michael Marriott, security researcher at Digital Shadows.

Services like this help negate a problem for cybercriminals – that when using marketplaces profits decrease for ‘legitimate’ buyers and sellers, and slow down transactions making cyberattacks less lucrative.

According to Digital Shadows, Ripper.cc is another example of the industrialisation of cybercrime. If such a service becomes successful, it enables cybercriminals to significantly reduce the risks associated with rippers and the overall cybercrime economy can become more profitable allowing for further growth and more attacks on legitimate businesses in the region.