Federal prosecutors in New Mexico announced the seizure of two marketplace domains and a blog used to sell fake identity documents to criminals across the world.
The operators of VerifTools created and sold counterfeit driver’s licenses, passports, and other IDs designed to defeat verification checks and unlock unauthorised access to online accounts.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico said the seizures were carried out after a lengthy investigation by the FBI.
Launch of the investigation
The FBI began its investigation in August 2022 after finding a scheme to use stolen identity data to break into cryptocurrency accounts.
Agents discovered that VerifTools offered counterfeit documents for all 50 U.S. states and for several other countries. Prices started at just $9, with payment accepted only in cryptocurrency.
As part of the probe, agents used the VerifTools marketplace to order fake New Mexico driver’s licenses. The purchases were made with cryptocurrency, confirming how the service operated.
Investigators have tied VerifTools to about $6.4 million in illicit earnings from sales of fake IDs.
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Law enforcement response
Acting U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison said criminals will not find a safe harbour online. He stressed that anyone who builds or sells tools to let offenders impersonate victims is committing a crime.
Ellison added that prosecutors would continue to use every lawful means to disrupt such networks, seize their profits, and bring operators to court.
Philip Russell, the Acting Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Division, called the takedown a major victory in the fight against fraud and identity theft.
He said the bureau will keep working with partners in the U.S. and abroad to dismantle criminal platforms wherever they operate.
Agencies involved
Both Ellison and Russell have shared the report, and the Albuquerque Division of the FBI headed the case, receiving assistance from the DOJ’s International Office.
The investigation relied on collaboration from the prosecutors and investigators from different regions, including the Eastern District of Virginia, the Dutch National Police, and the Netherlands Public Prosecution Service.
This case study demonstrates the importance of international collaboration in the fight against internet fraud. A considerable number of these cases would be very difficult for American investigators to crack without the assistance of foreign partners.
Wider crackdown
The seizures come as federal agencies step up enforcement against online crime and illicit finance. Earlier this year, UnoCrypto reported that the Drug Enforcement Administration and the FBI seized more than $10 million in cryptocurrency tied to the Sinaloa cartel during raids in Miami.
That operation was part of a national crackdown launched in January 2025 to break up drug trafficking networks.
Officials said the removal of VerifTools marks only one step in an ongoing battle. Criminal groups continue to create new services to sell stolen data and counterfeit documents, and many operate across borders.
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