Stolen identities and credit cards are frequently found on the dark web, but it's becoming increasingly common to find hacked social media accounts for sale on darknet marketplaces. How much do they cost? Far less than you would think.
According to data extracted by Whizcase (and visualized by Atlas VPN) between January and September 2022, the cheapest accounts belong to Reddit, which go for as low as $6. TikTok, Pinterest, and Twitter accounts all cost $10 or less, while Discord, Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat are about $15 a pop.
The most expensive social media account on the dark web is LinkedIn, which is typically sold for around $45 per account. This makes sense, considering it's a platform used by professionals with high-profile connections.
Still, it's not uncommon for these accounts to be sold in bulk, with hundreds of thousands of credentials sold at a lower price. But what's the end goal for those who buy these stolen accounts? Apparently, social media bot farms are becoming increasingly common, where social engagement manipulation is the service being sold.
According to Whizcase, people are reportedly selling 1,000 Instagram followers for just $6. Streamers can buy 1,000 Twitch followers for just $12. The big money comes from Twitter accounts, where 1,000 retweets will cost you $25. These prices don't include the extra fees to choose the country of origin for the accounts.
Social media has become a dangerous way to spend your time: Social media scams are rampant and disinformation is a serious danger to our democracy. But if you're careful and know what to look for, you can avoid the worst threats.