Identity Mules- Russians Fuel Identity Fraud by Selling Images and Videos of People Holding Identity Documents

Russian online vendors are enabling face fraud by selling anonymous images and videos, allowing individuals to bypass Know Your Customer (KYC) checks on cryptocurrency exchanges and financial services.

According to an investigation by 404 Media, vendors like Fotodropy Store offer images and videos of random citizens for prices around $16, which fraudsters purchase with Bitcoin to create fake identities. Another site offers sets of 100 photos for nearly $40, featuring individuals from countries like Spain, Peru, and Mexico. These images are often of people holding blank pieces of paper the sizes of passports or driving licences, making them useful for various forms of identity fraud.

Cybersecurity firm SentiLink revealed that individuals in countries like Serbia are being paid as little as $5 to take selfies and videos of themselves, which are then sold on these underground platforms.

Selling headshots allows fraud to bypass security measures, posing a serious threat to the financial system. KYC checks are critical for cryptocurrency platforms to comply with anti-money laundering (AML) regulations, which require users to verify with selfies and documents such as passports.

These fraudulent practices undermine security measures intended to prevent money laundering and other illegal activities.