From the article linked at the bottom of the article:

"DarkMarket is the only survivor among the handful of crime forums that emerged to fill the hole left by the Secret Service's "Operation Firewall" in October 2004. In that unprecedented law enforcement crackdown, the agency used an informant to target what was then the top crime site, Shadowcrew.com."

I think it's hilarious that the leading crime forums have been sting operations for the last several years. How long before criminals start assuming this is the case by default?

When reading this I begin to remember an article I read on MSNBC some time ago about a sting operation in which several criminals (not violent ones, just ones wanted for robberies of various sorts) were identified and traced but were evading law enforcement. To solve this problem, police sent them priority mail, from the Police Department mind you, informing them that they had all won brand new 42" HDTVs, among other prizes, and that they needed to show up at a local mall at such and such date/time in order to claim their prize. Every single one of them showed up and were arrested upon walking in the door.

love the printed out LOLcat picture in the lower right-hand corner of the office picture - http://blog.wired.com/photos/uncategorized/2008/10/13/ncfta_...

I wonder if it's possible to solve this with something like a web of trust.