An Assessment of Hitmen and Contracted Violence Providers Operating Online

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.

Automated summary

Past research has explored the adaptation and risk management of vendors and consumers of illicit goods in online environments. However, this study focuses on contract-based violence and examines how vendors signal legitimacy and mitigate risk for consumers through language and images in their advertisements. The findings suggest that vendors emphasize privacy, anonymity, and affiliations with well-known organizations to establish trust and alleviate uncertainties.