ScamsNOW!

The SCARS Institute Magazine about Scam Victims-Survivors, Scams, Fraud & Cybercrime

A Beginner’s Guide to the Dark Web for Investigators

By Oxana Korzun, CFE, Fraud Expert / Investigations and Risk Management – San Francisco, California

A Short Instruction On How To Find Information On The Dark Web For OSINT Purposes

Many times, an investigation would lead me to the Dark Web. Sometimes it’s to dive into forums and gather intelligence, and other times it would be to check illegal goods markets selling counterfeit products of my clients.

Every time I mention that I use the Dark Web, people imagine a really scary place with criminals selling their goods right and left and that people can suffer dire consequences even for trying to open websites there.

Other people ask if it’s even legal to access it. It’s not illegal, and the right precautions and tools make it a safe enough place and a source of abundant information not searchable through traditional means.

Step 1. Get the Tor Browser

The Tor Browser provides access to .onion websites and is pretty good for browsing anonymously. The browser usually opens with the DuckDuckGo search engine which adds an additional layer of protection. It behaves as a regular browser and all surface websites can be open as well. The downside is that Tor is painfully slow.

Step 2. Install a Virtual Private Network (VPN)

VPNs mask users’ IP addresses and add more anonymity. There are many free VPNs, but they limit the number of countries that can be used to hide IPs. They are easy to use and can be activated with a one-click button. Browsers also have VPN extensions. VPNs still can log data so their use doesn’t make users completely anonymous (for example, Onavo Project, a free VPN, was collecting user data and giving it to Meta, both companies were sued and had to pay $10 million each).

Using them also can slow down the browsing process significantly.

Step 3. Find a List of Websites to visit

There is no one centralized place to find all Dark Web websites but many directories try to keep their databases updated. Hidden Wiki, OnionLinks are popular darknet directories (links to be opened in Tor). Investigators can also use dark web search engines like Ahmia or Haystack (to be opened in TOR). Many databases haven’t been updated for some time, and new Dark Web sites appear and disappear every day, so aggregators’ data needs to be re-checked.

If a website doesn’t open today, it still might work tomorrow. There is a service to check if the most popular darknet websites are down and find new links when the old ones don’t work.

Forums and chats are also great places to find information about the subject. Marketplaces are useful as well, but they contain mostly illegal content.
There is also Hunchly, a service I wrote about in my previous post, that provides a free daily dark report with new websites collected in a spreadsheet.

Things to Keep in Mind

Anonymity is incredibly important on the Dark Web. Using Tor and VPNs doesn’t make it 100% safe. It’s always a good idea to back up your computer data and check for malware and viruses on a regular basis. Some investigators use virtual machines or clean computers just for the Dark Web. Users should never share any information that can unveil their identity including email addresses, usernames, photos, and other easily searchable information.

Any data extracted from the darknet can be used in an investigation only after cross-checking and source verification. Criminals, hackers, law enforcement, and tyrannical governments can be all in one space and share fake information.

Find more about fraud and investigations in the Investigator Blog

SCARS Resources:

For New Victims of Relationship Scams newvictim.AgainstScams.org
Subscribe to SCARS Newsletter newsletter.againstscams.org
Sign up for SCARS professional support & recovery groups, visit support.AgainstScams.org
Find competent trauma counselors or therapists, visit counseling.AgainstScams.org
Become a SCARS Member and get free counseling benefits, visit membership.AgainstScams.org
Report each and every crime, learn how to at reporting.AgainstScams.org
Learn more about Scams & Scammers at RomanceScamsNOW.com and ScamsNOW.com
Global Cyber Alliance ACT Cybersecurity Tool Website: Actionable Cybersecurity Tools (ACT) (globalcyberalliance.org)
Self-Help Books for Scam Victims are at shop.AgainstScams.org
Donate to SCARS and help us help others at donate.AgainstScams.org
Worldwide Crisis Hotlines: International Suicide Hotlines – OpenCounseling : OpenCounseling
Campaign To End Scam Victim Blaming – 2024 (scamsnow.com)

-/ 30 /-

What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment below!

More ScamsNOW.com Articles

Scam Victim Trauma Denial and Why it is So Difficult to Overcome – 2025

$100 Million Dollar Romance Scammers from Ghana Extradited to the United States – 2025

Understanding Grief through Kierkegaard, Heidegger, and Camus – 2025

Yearning or Longing for Something More – An Open Door for Scammers – 2025

Japanese Ma – An Essential Part of Your Recovery is Allowing Silence – 2025

Are Scammers Using Central Intelligence Agency RICE Method to Lure and Capture Scam Victims? – 2025

WARNING – Scam Victims Exploited By The News Media – 2024 [UPDATED 2025]

Encounter with a Vampire – With a Relationship Scam – the Temptation of the Malevolent – 2025 [VIDEO]

-/ 30 /-

What do you think about this?
Please share your thoughts in a comment above!

SCARS LINKS: AgainstScams.org RomanceScamsNOW.com ContraEstafas.org ScammerPhotos.com Anyscam.com ScamsNOW.com

reporting.AgainstScams.org support.AgainstScams.org membership.AgainstScams.org donate.AgainstScams.org shop.AgainstScams.org

youtube.AgainstScams.org linkedin.AgainstScams.org facebook.AgainstScams.org

ARTICLE RATING

TABLE OF CONTENTS

CATEGORIES

MOST POPULAR COMMENTED ARTICLES

POPULAR ARTICLES

U.S. & Canada Suicide Lifeline 988

A Beginner's Guide to the Dark Web for Investigators

ARTICLE META

Published On: October 1st, 2023Last Updated: October 4th, 2023Categories: Uncategorized0 CommentsTotal Views: 1046Daily Views: 2719 words3.6 min read

WHAT PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT LATEST SITE COMMENTS

See Comments for this Article at the Bottom of the Page

on Scam Victim Psychological Trauma And Weight Gain – 2024: “I have noticed that since my crime it has been very difficult to stay on program with my eating and…” Aug 14, 11:01
on Scam Victim Trauma Denial and Why it is So Difficult to Overcome – 2025: “I liked the tone of this article, it offers a conversation that leads a person through next steps. However, for…” Aug 14, 08:19
on The Relationship Between Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS/ME) And Psychological Trauma – A Review – 2024: “This article is very informative. However, when I alerted my PCP to the existence of my crime his words to…” Aug 12, 13:25
on Fibromyalgia & Psychological Trauma Link – Medical Health Alert – 2023: “This is quite a connection! Thank you for this article!” Aug 12, 13:18
on Relearning Critical Thinking And To Think Skeptically – For Scam Victims After A Relationship Scam – 2024: “Relearning critical thinking is important on the journey toward healing. The trauma of our crime has changed a lot for…” Aug 12, 12:46
on Disinformation, Spam, and Scams are Making People More Susceptible to Scams – 2024: “Asking questions are in fct nice thing if yyou are not understanding something entirely, however this article presents fastidious understanding…” Aug 12, 06:56
on Labyrinth Walking and Spiral Walking Meditation for Scam Victims – 2024: “Great article! I wish I had known about labyrinth or spiral walking over a year ago prior to when my…” Aug 11, 11:27
on Anxiety And Mindfulness – A Tool For Scam Victims – 2024 – [VIDEOS]: “The article is well written and points survivors towards being in the moment and leaving the future and the past…” Aug 11, 11:12
on Mindfulness Breathing For Scam Victims Recovery 2024: “Mindfulness Breathing is a great tool for me especially when I find my thoughts chasing one another like squirrels in…” Aug 11, 10:58
on Scam Victims Compliance With Scammer Authority Figures – 2024: “Interesting read, further explains the tactics scammers will use against you.” Aug 10, 16:34
on Scam Victims In The RAIN – A Mindfulness Approach For Recovery – 2024 [UPDATED 2025]: “This technique will be helpful for me. So often I push my feelings down or “push” them behind me and…” Aug 7, 15:31
on The Tao – The Philosophy of the Path to Recovery: “Thank you for a glimpse into this method of healing and mindfulness. At the present I work with my trauma…” Aug 7, 15:18
on The Value of Slowness: “What we really need to face in this online digital world is that so much of it is false. And…” Aug 7, 15:08
on Overconfidence And Scam Victims Susceptibility To Scams – 2024 [UPDATED]: “This website really has all the information and facts I wanted about this subject and didn’t know who to ask.” Aug 3, 10:23
on A Scam Victim in Extreme Distress – Stopping the Pain – 2024: “this post really clarified a lot of things for me, and heled me to understand , there is a lot…” Aug 1, 07:31
on Glimmers of Light – the Positive Side of Experience for Scam Victims – 2025: “Very useful /helpful article for victims suffering from trauma not only of all types” Jul 31, 02:47
on Relationship Scam Victims – Impact On Employment And Jobs – Saving Employment After A Scam: “Trauma, fear of shame, grief can alter how we handle day to day situations such as work or caring for…” Jul 31, 02:08
on Fear Of Contagion: Why Scam Victims Are Harshly Judged And Blamed 2023: “This comment stems from a re-read of this article. I first read it several months ago. I understand that others…” Jul 31, 01:28
on WARNING – Scam Victims Exploited By The News Media – 2024 [UPDATED 2025]: “The article highlights some important information for victims who after years of recovery/support feel “ready” to talk to the media…” Jul 28, 18:54
on WARNING – Scam Victims Exploited By The News Media – 2024 [UPDATED 2025]: “Thank you for this explanation of the potential added on trauma a survivor could be exposed to. Definitely not worth…” Jul 21, 17:13

Important Information for New Scam Victims

Please visit www.ScamVictimsSupport.org – a SCARS Website for New Scam Victims & Sextortion Victims
SCARS Institute now offers a free recovery program at www.SCARSeducation.org
Please visit www.ScamPsychology.org – to more fully understand the psychological concepts involved in scams and scam victim recovery

If you are looking for local trauma counselors, please visit counseling.AgainstScams.org

If you need to speak with someone now, you can dial 988 or find phone numbers for crisis hotlines all around the world here: www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

Statement About Victim Blaming

Some of our articles discuss various aspects of victims. This is both about better understanding victims (the science of victimology) and their behaviors and psychology. This helps us to educate victims/survivors about why these crimes happened and not to blame themselves, better develop recovery programs, and help victims avoid scams in the future. At times, this may sound like blaming the victim, but it does not blame scam victims; we are simply explaining the hows and whys of the experience victims have.

These articles, about the Psychology of Scams or Victim Psychology – meaning that all humans have psychological or cognitive characteristics in common that can either be exploited or work against us – help us all to understand the unique challenges victims face before, during, and after scams, fraud, or cybercrimes. These sometimes talk about some of the vulnerabilities the scammers exploit. Victims rarely have control of them or are even aware of them, until something like a scam happens, and then they can learn how their mind works and how to overcome these mechanisms.

Articles like these help victims and others understand these processes and how to help prevent them from being exploited again or to help them recover more easily by understanding their post-scam behaviors. Learn more about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

SCARS INSTITUTE RESOURCES:

If You Have Been Victimized By A Scam Or Cybercrime

♦ If you are a victim of scams, go to www.ScamVictimsSupport.org for real knowledge and help

♦ Enroll in SCARS Scam Survivor’s School now at www.SCARSeducation.org

♦ To report criminals, visit https://reporting.AgainstScams.org – we will NEVER give your data to money recovery companies like some do!

♦ Follow us and find our podcasts, webinars, and helpful videos on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@RomancescamsNowcom

♦ Learn about the Psychology of Scams at www.ScamPsychology.org

♦ Dig deeper into the reality of scams, fraud, and cybercrime at www.ScamsNOW.com and www.RomanceScamsNOW.com

♦ Scam Survivor’s Stories: www.ScamSurvivorStories.org

♦ For Scam Victim Advocates visit www.ScamVictimsAdvocates.org

♦ See more scammer photos on www.ScammerPhotos.com

You can also find the SCARS Institute on Facebook, Instagram, X, LinkedIn, and TruthSocial

Psychology Disclaimer:

All articles about psychology and the human brain on this website are for information & education only

The information provided in this and other SCARS articles are intended for educational and self-help purposes only and should not be construed as a substitute for professional therapy or counseling.

Note about Mindfulness: Mindfulness practices have the potential to create psychological distress for some individuals. Please consult a mental health professional or experienced meditation instructor for guidance should you encounter difficulties.

While any self-help techniques outlined herein may be beneficial for scam victims seeking to recover from their experience and move towards recovery, it is important to consult with a qualified mental health professional before initiating any course of action. Each individual’s experience and needs are unique, and what works for one person may not be suitable for another.

Additionally, any approach may not be appropriate for individuals with certain pre-existing mental health conditions or trauma histories. It is advisable to seek guidance from a licensed therapist or counselor who can provide personalized support, guidance, and treatment tailored to your specific needs.

If you are experiencing significant distress or emotional difficulties related to a scam or other traumatic event, please consult your doctor or mental health provider for appropriate care and support.

Also read our SCARS Institute Statement about Professional Care for Scam Victims – click here

If you are in crisis, feeling desperate, or in despair, please call 988 or your local crisis hotline.