An Assessment of Hitmen and Contracted Violence Providers Operating Online

ABSTRACT

Past research has considered the ways in which vendors and consumers of illicit goods adapt to various formal and informal threats and manage risk in online environments. However, this topic is virtually unexplored in the context of contract-based violence. Using a sample of 24 advertisements posted on the Open and Dark web, this study utilizes a qualitative case study design to analyze the ways in which vendors attempt to signal legitimacy through the language and images used in their posts. Further, this work outlines the advertised payment structures and prices based on the skill level of contract hitmen, the weapons used, the method of violence, and the status of potential victims. The analysis reveals several ways in which vendors emphasize the privacy and anonymity of their services and highlight their ties to well-recognized organizations (e.g., the military, the mafia) in an attempt to mitigate risk and uncertainty for consumers. In addition, results reveal that online list prices for basic services are higher than previous estimates for similar services offered off-line, suggesting a premium associated with legitimacy and anonymity. These findings contribute to the literature surrounding the market for contract violence, as well as online illicit market processes generally.

Additional information

Funding

This project was funded by the Department of Homeland Security – Science and Technology Division, grant no [17stcin000001-02-00; subaward e2042937].

Notes on contributors

Ariel L. Roddy

Ariel L. Roddy, M.S., is a doctoral student at the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. Her research interests include the application of economic theory to criminal justice, women’s reentry, and illicit markets on and offline.

Thomas J. Holt

Thomas J. Holt is a professor at the School of Criminal Justice at Michigan State University. His research focuses on computer hacking, malware, and the role of the Internet in facilitating all manner of crime and deviance. His work has been published in various journals including Crime and Delinquency, Deviant Behavior, the Journal of Criminal Justice, and Youth and Society.