Today, the dark web is famously known as one of the sources of illegal services offered for sale, including, allegedly, hitmen-for-hire. Services provided would bypass legal boundaries on the open web, using secret networks and payments in cryptocurrencies in this ‘hidden’ side of the internet. Nevertheless, though dark web markets have facilitated an assortment of illegal activities, people are generally in acceptance of it; they do not, however, support ‘hitman’ sites. They just scam the population by putting up a convincing front boasting professionalism and reliability through doctored testimonials and often flamboyant websites. 
The Besa Mafia scam is one  example of this persuasion, tricking many people into believing they could indeed hire a hitman online. The service was eventually outed as a fraud, amassing vast sums without ever providing any services. Yet, the scam has managed over the years subbing out services, which shows just how far these individuals are willing to go and how difficult it is to shut these scams down completely.

Real Cases of Contract Killing Attempts

Despite widespread scams, real cases of attempted murder-for-hire have surfaced, with desperate individuals willing to take extreme measures. Ross Ulbricht, founder of the Silk Road marketplace, was reportedly involved in attempting to hire contract killers to eliminate competitors. Though none of these alleged killings were carried out, the case highlighted the risks and consequences of even attempting to solicit such a service online​
In some cases, law enforcement has intercepted messages and payments from individuals trying to use these sites, preventing potential crimes. These attempts often end in arrest, with severe legal penalties for solicitation, conspiracy to commit murder, and related charges. Such arrests have also led to investigations into the scammers behind these websites, although the anonymity of the dark web makes prosecution challenging​.

Why People Turn to Online Hitmen

What drives people to seek out hitmen online? Psychological and social factors play a significant role, with motivations including revenge, financial disputes, and emotional desperation. Financial loss or betrayal can drive individuals to extreme measures, believing that hiring a hitman online offers a solution to their problems without direct confrontation. However, this often makes them easy targets for fraudsters, who are adept at manipulating these vulnerabilities for profit​

For the individuals involved, the act of seeking a hitman can lead to feelings of psychological distress, guilt, and paranoia, especially once they realize the legal implications or the fact that they have been scammed. Scammers often exploit this guilt, threatening to expose the transaction unless the victim pays additional sums, trapping them in a cycle of blackmail.

Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Countermeasures

Authorities worldwide are actively working to monitor and counteract these fraudulent sites. Cybersecurity experts collaborate with agencies like the FBI and Homeland Security to identify and track down those responsible for creating these scams. A recent high-profile operation involved law enforcement across countries, targeting a group in Eastern Europe that operated several dark web sites posing as murder-for-hire services​

By infiltrating these networks, analysts gain access to data and user logs that help trace both the scammers and the individuals attempting to hire hitmen. Although anonymity makes enforcement difficult, advances in digital forensics and cryptocurrency tracking have led to several successful arrests. Such crackdowns also prevent copycat sites from continuing operations, though the ongoing presence of these schemes highlights the resilience and adaptability of cybercriminals.

The Legal Risks of Attempting to Hire a Hitman Online

Legal repercussions are severe for those caught trying to hire hitmen online. As is known, the charges of solicitation, and conspiracy to commit murder are among the harshest charges possible with life sentences in many jurisdictions. These legal repercussions extend not only to a direct solicitor of murder but also to the one who set up shop for the purpose. To interact with a hitman service, be it legitimate or sham, is a sure way of inviting drawn-out investigations and criminal charges.
Not only that but even if a transaction isn ’ t completed, taking such actions creates a digital trail that can be admissible in court at a later stage for the authorities. With better tools, tracking hence has; improved to the extent that most dark web activity and suspicious payments can be tracked, meaning that the possibility of getting away with something is quickly fading away.

Unmasking the Myths: The Reality of Hitman-for-Hire Services

The truth is that most “hitman” services online are scams, designed to exploit the naivety or desperation of their clients. No reputable organization operates on the premise of murder-for-hire, and nearly every service claiming to do so has turned out to be fraudulent. Beyond financial loss, engaging with such sites opens individuals to personal risk, blackmail, and legal troubles.

Additionally, dark web “hitmen” stories are often fueled by myth. While the dark web does contain sites for illegal services, studies have found that most murder-for-hire claims are fabricated, serving as a warning to avoid the allure of these dark web marketplaces.