In a bold move reminiscent of ransomware tactics, the darknet narcotics marketplace Incognito Market has begun extorting its vendors and buyers. After reportedly pulling an “exit scam,” leaving users unable to withdraw millions of dollars, the marketplace administrators are now threatening to publish crypto currency transaction and chat records unless a fee ranging from $100 to $20,000 is paid.

The homepage of Incognito Market now displays a blackmail message from its owners, warning users that purchase records of vendors who refuse to pay will soon be released. With over 557,000 orders and 862,000 cryptocurrency transaction IDs set to be dumped at the end of May, users are left in a precarious position.

Incognito Market plans to open a “whitelist portal” in the coming weeks, allowing buyers to remove their transaction records. This mass-extortion attempt follows reports of users being unable to withdraw funds from their accounts, indicating a potentially large-scale exit scam.

The situation highlights the risks associated with darknet markets, as users now face the threat of exposure as drug dealers. Incognito Market’s actions mirror the double extortion techniques employed by modern ransomware groups, presenting users with the choice of paying to keep their information confidential or facing its public release.

Despite the allure of anonymity on darknet markets, users are reminded to exercise caution and employ robust encryption methods to protect their sensitive information. As Incognito Market users grapple with the fallout of this extortion scheme, the future of the darknet marketplace remains uncertain.

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