Okay, so What is the Basis for the 'Honeypot = Evolution' Argument?

Honestly, I can't see where it would be an issue. I'm no genius when it comes to OPSEC, but under the assumption that you're using encryption for your address, and the vendor is not LE, what does operating the server do to catch buyers?

Frankly, if the FBI is running Evolution, and transactions still go alright, I don't give two fucks.

But aside from that, why has 'Evolution = honeypot' been a continuing argument? I know some use it as satire of the frequency of posts mocking Evolution, but is there actually any cause for concern?


Comments


[33 Points] throwing_silk:

Well if Evo is run by the feds, I gotta say thanks mister federal man for getting me high as fuck for months now.


[14 Points] DNMd:

due to the history of english carding forums, and the fact that Evo is the new project of those who own/ran TCF

http://www.reddit.com/r/DarkNetMarkets/comments/2xs1hv/is_the_drug_market_a_reputable_vendor_site_how/cp41w6r

I can't really comment on more recent events in regards to EVO, sorry. I only use it when necessary and don't really keep up do date besides what I may run into here. But the Evo naysayers have been around from the get go.

Care to elaborate on what you mean by english carding forum?

Sure. This needs a little background if you don't know what carding forums are/their history. Carding is the practice of credit card theft, and all that this underground industry entails. Think selling, trading, brokering information deals, exchanging techniques equipment and hacks, etc.

Originally this was all done over the internet in Russian or slavic language, eventually centralized in invite only Russian forums, who carefully vetted and require vouches. They had/have deals with the gov and run with impunity as long as they leave domestic institutions alone. I'm sure there's monetary deals as well lol.

Naturally the English speakers wanted a piece of the pie, but not many of us speak Russian. A small group of enterprising Americans started their own, English language carding forum. I could go on all day about the history of this, it's very interesting. But I'll keep it brief. Basically we don't run a tight ship like the Russians nor have the benefit of having a collaborating/negligent government. It didn't take long for the feds to gather evidence, turn key individuals and insert themselves into the inner circle of this English group. It fell, more were spawned in it's wake which would also share the same fate. The US government has had a history of infiltrating, turning members into CIs, and dismantling every single English carding forum in it's targets from the get go. Their methods of gathering information, intimidation and enticement here have worked without fail.

Evolution is the new project of those who ran/owned TOR Carding Forum (TCF). Given the history of TCF/English Carding forums I'm sure you can now see the negative correlation. They have said they distance the 2, but the safety of the service and it's members relies solely on the smarts and OPSEC of it's creators. Let's hope they've learned something.


[8 Points] None:

The Feds are running a real long game. All of the so-called "dealers" are DEA, mailing drugs that have been seized from real drug dealers. They are accumulating a large list of buyers, and once they have accumulated enough (about 25,000 buyers) they will swoop in and arrest them all at once.


[5 Points] None:

People are idiots.


[5 Points] None:

The whole carding forum thing plus they used to always cite how evo was always up as a reason, as if that means jack shit


[2 Points] CocaineNose:

Because of it's past when it was TCF (tor carding forum). just search that and you'll see a bunch of stuff.


[2 Points] Hayk_Vosgi:

Evo was a government operation until the techs running it realized what kind of money's involved, at which point they've stolen the keys, moved to South Africa and have been running it legit ever since.

True story.


[2 Points] BahWhatever666:

Because people are on drugs overly paranoid. The feds won't run the fucking site, they'll take it down before that happens.

A little common sense goes a long way.


[1 Points] tvgn9545:

LE would have taken it down by now I think. Unless they're having trouble figuring out who's running it. Probably hard to ID the vendors, but they'd have the biggest buyers pinned by now. Don't know why'd they'd keep it running.


[1 Points] Vendor_Thrills:

The market can change how the vendor's key appears, when in actuality its their own key. This would allow them to encrypt/decrypt messages and then just pass them along to whichever party needs to receive it


[1 Points] None:

Evo is just weird, gives off bad vibes imo


[1 Points] Oldwisewoman:

Stupidity. That would be the basis for said argument. Like... cmon now. Ain't no DNM a honeypot..just can't be. Dem boyz are not gonna allow 'cotics to pass through the system and flow like rivers of honey. Unless every transaction was met with an immediate bust. Which not the case. N don't talk about SR2.6, that wasn't a honeypot. That was just full retard (and infiltrated). Big diff. K thanx bye.


[1 Points] sonthonaxBLACK:

If the FBI ran a darkmarket, it would eventually be uncovered and there would be an absurd scandal in the US government.


[1 Points] ErraticWire:

It really doesn't matter if Evolution is a honeypot or not. The inherent risks as vendors and buyers remain the same. Assuming the devs know what they're doing, the biggest threat to all DNMs is staff infiltration by LE. Once they gain their foothold, the countdown begins.


[1 Points] consumerrr:

I've got stuff ordered on evo and sent to the EU from the EU. So it's either the mother fucking global spectre of LE governing us all (and doing a helluva job) or the theory is BS.. I would go with the latter statement.


[0 Points] hdheuud:

The market can change how the vendor's key appears, when in actuality its their own key. This would allow them to encrypt/decrypt messages and then just pass them along to whichever party needs to receive it