Total Listings: 95624 ___________________________Drugs Listings: 34791

Note: The information presented here is derived from the research work done by the Information Analysis Unit (IAU) at Reliance Global Corporate Security between August 2017 and January 2018. Due to the highly volatile nature of the dark web this researched information may no longer be profound/ existing on the dark web scene.

After the take down of two of the world’s largest dark web markets, namely AlphaBay and Hansa, in July 2017 as part of Operation Bayonet, Dream Market is now leading the charts.

The Dream Market contains both legal and illegal products and services. Founded in late 2013, the marketplace sells a variety of content, including drugs, stolen data, counterfeit money and consumer goods etc.

To review the capacity of Dream Market and everything it has to offer, registering an account is a must. To buy things on Dream Market and in order to be able to communicate with vendors in an encrypted environment one needs to have Bitcoins & a PGP key. Further, to buy an item, one will have to deposit a certain number of bitcoins into his/her account.

Dream Market also provides an escrow service, holding payments until customers approve the delivery and agree to the Bitcoin being released to the seller. Feedback systems like those on legitimate sites such as Amazon and eBay allow buyers to rate their purchases and to leave comments, helping other customers choose a trustworthy supplier. The website administrators take a 5–10% cut from each sale and set broad policy (for example, whether to allow the sale of guns). They pay moderators in bitcoin to run customer forums and handle complaints.

Once a deal is struck and payment is waiting in escrow, drugs are packed in a vacuum-sealed zip locked bag using latex gloves to avoid leaving fingerprints or traces of DNA and dipped in bleach as a further precaution against leaving forensic traces. A label is printed, as Customs officials are suspicious of handwritten addresses on international packages. To further avoid suspicion, vendors do not buy vacuum-seal bags in bulk. Smart sellers use several post offices or couriers, all far from their location — and preferably not overlooked by CCTV cameras. Some offer to send empty packages to new customers, so they can check for signs of inspection.

Once established, vendors work hard to keep clients happy. “Customer service is usually excellent,” notes a regular weed-buyer on Dream Market, who finds that dealers online are “very polite and friendly”. Honest feedback may be rewarded: some sellers respond to positive reviews by putting a little extra in the next parcel. Diversifying is another way to increase revenue.