Abuse Taxonomy

Version 0.2.1
Last Modified: 2022-01-27
Creator: INTERPOL Darknet and Cryptocurrencies Working Group

Description

This taxonomy defines common forms of abuses encountered in Darknet and Cryptoasset Investigations. This includes improper deployment or usage of services to unfairly or improperly gain benefit.

Concept Index

Scam | Extortion | Sextortion | Phishing | Service Hack | Ransomware | Investment Fraud | Ponzi Scheme | Pyramid Scheme | Sanction List | Violent Extremism | Terrorism | Dark web

Concept Definitions


Label
Scam
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#scam
Description
Scam denotes a fraudulent or deceptive act or operation.
See also
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scam

Label
Extortion
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#extortion
Description
Extortion denotes the act or practice of extorting especially money or other property.
See also
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/extortion
Narrower Concepts
Sextortion

Label
Sextortion
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#sextortion
Description
Sextortion refers to the broad category of sexual exploitation in which abuse of power is the means of coercion, as well as to the category of sexual exploitation in which threatened release of sexual images or information is the means of coercion.
See also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sextortion
Broader Concepts
Extortion

Label
Phishing
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#phishing
Description
Phishing is the fraudulent attempt to obtain sensitive information such as usernames, passwords and credit card details by disguising oneself as a trustworthy entity in an electronic communication.
See also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phishing

Label
Service Hack
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#service_hack
Description
A service hack denotes the digital intrusion into a service with the goal to steal funds.

Label
Ransomware
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#ransomware
Description
Ransomware is a type of malware from cryptovirology that threatens to publish the victim's data or perpetually block access to it unless a ransom is paid.
See also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ransomware

Label
Investment Fraud
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#investment_fraud
Description
Investment fraud involves the illegal sale or purported sale of financial instruments. The typical investment fraud schemes are characterized by offers of low- or no-risk investments, guaranteed returns, overly-consistent returns, complex strategies, or unregistered securities.
See also
https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/investment-fraud
Narrower Concepts
Ponzi_scheme

Label
Ponzi Scheme
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#ponzi_scheme
Description
Ponzi schemes promise high financial returns or dividends not available through traditional investments. Instead of investing the funds of victims, however, the con artist pays dividends to initial investors using the funds of subsequent investors. The scheme generally falls apart when the operator flees with all of the proceeds or when a sufficient number of new investors cannot be found to allow the continued payment of dividends.
See also
https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/ponzi-schemes
Narrower Concepts
Pyramid_scheme
Broader Concepts
Investment_fraud

Label
Pyramid Scheme
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#pyramid_scheme
Description
As in Ponzi schemes, the money collected from newer victims of pyramid schemes is paid to earlier victims to provide a veneer of legitimacy. In pyramid schemes, however, the victims themselves are induced to recruit further victims through the payment of recruitment commissions.
See also
https://www.fbi.gov/scams-and-safety/common-scams-and-crimes/pyramid-schemes
Broader Concepts
Ponzi_scheme

Label
Sanction List
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#sanction
Description
An entry appears on a sanction list published by governments and international authorities to combat illegal activities.

Label
Violent Extremism
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#extremism
Description
Serially or systematically dehumanize others, frequently express hate speech towards opponents, perform selective/ individual acts of violence, actively separate targets from society, active discrimination.
See also
https://gifct.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GIFCT-TaxonomyReport-2021.pdf

Label
Terrorism
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#terrorism
Description
Endorse, promote, or enact physical violence towards out-, in-group or infrastructure.
See also
https://gifct.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/GIFCT-TaxonomyReport-2021.pdf

Label
Dark web
URI
https://graphsense.github.io/DW-VA-Taxonomy/taxonomies/abuses#dark_web
Description
Illegal Web content or service offerings exposed via darknets overlay networks, which are only through networks such as Tor.
See also
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dark_web