In an era where the web is widely used by different operators, cybercrime has become an evolving threat due to increased digitalization and the accessibility of the web, which has an anonymized side to it referred to as the “dark web”. Research shows that the dark web has enabled criminals to commit cybercrimes, e.g. exchanging illegal documents and distributing malware through marketplaces. However, there is insufficient research on types of cybercrimes prevalent on the dark web, and how sellers and buyers establish trust on these marketplaces.

This study has the goal to uncover the types of cybercrime services present on the dark web, particularly analyzing the marketplace DarkDock. This includes how the services and sellers are portrayed to establish trust between the seller and customer. Further, highlighting the services and tactics provides an understanding of the dark web ecosystem that strengthens criminal activity.

To explore the topic, the research goal is to answer the question:

- What different types of cybercrime services are offered on the marketplace ‘DarkDock’ on the dark web? How do these offers show an established trust with buyers on the marketplace ‘DarkDock’?

In order to respond to the question, a web scraper was developed to collect data from DarkDock. Together with a content analysis we aim to obtain both a qualitative and quantitative understanding of the collected data. By developing codes and themes for types of services and trust-establishing methods, they provide insights and knowledge for answering the research question.

Our findings suggest that crime-listings related to access crime are the most mentioned on DarkDock, followed by network crimes. Specifically courses, data and confidential information are being sold and advertised by sellers. This is done through emphasizing communication and assistance in the listings, including ensuring fast deliveries and satisfaction for customers.

The conclusions contribute to an understanding of what is being offered and how the dark web ecosystem works from a trust-building perspective. This provides knowledge for identifying potential upcoming cyber threats and mitigating them. Further research could include examining more marketplaces and what drives demand for certain services on the dark web, and focusing on offerings related to guides and informational courses.