Danish Woman Receives 6-Year Prison Sentence for Hiring a Hitman on the Darknet
In Lyngby, Denmark, a 58-year-old woman has been sentenced to six years in prison for attempting to have someone killed by hiring a hitman through a darknet forum. The case, which involved the well-known CrimeBay (also known as Chechen Mob), first became publicly known just a few months before the sentencing, even though Danish authorities arrested the woman in early 2017. Details of the case only began to emerge after the court proceedings started in December.
The accused, 58-year-old Emanuela Consortini, will serve six years in prison and will be deported from Denmark after completing her sentence. Consortini hired a hitman through CrimeBay, a website where users can order contract killings, assaults of varying severity, car arson, and other illicit services. She did not hold back and decided to order the murder of her own boyfriend, who was on a business trip in Italy.
How the Plot Was Uncovered
British police somehow uncovered Emanuela’s plans (it is speculated that she may have contacted an undercover law enforcement account on the platform) and informed Italian authorities about the possible murder attempt.
There is some debate about whether CrimeBay cooperates with law enforcement or allows undercover accounts on its platform. Nevertheless, authorities have managed to access communications between some buyers and hitmen, possibly with the help of specially trained experts.
British police had access to messages sent by the woman. But how did they manage to identify her? Article authors suggest several possible explanations:
- Detailed descriptions in her messages, including many personal details about the intended victim
- Matching the forum avatar with an avatar from one of the victim’s social media accounts
- Tracking Bitcoin transactions (advanced analysis can reveal users of hidden Tor services)
Other Possible Factors
- Hacking the victim’s correspondence with the help of specialized personnel
- Receiving leaked information from an undercover seller on the CrimeBay platform
- Improper use of Tor
- Insufficient awareness of anonymity and cybersecurity by the victim