20

Ji1Si was as pleased as punch. CardersMarket and Iceman were still on their feet, but reeling from the counter-punches that followed the revelations about DarkMarket as a sting site. A majority of carders now believed (wrongly) that CardersMarket was the sting site and DarkMarket kosher. In consequence, DarkMarket started growing again, towards its eventual membership of 2,000.

Of course there were still rumours that maybe all was not what it seemed among the administrators of DarkMarket, but by this stage there were as many pack animals among the carders as there were 'lone wolves' from the pioneering days of cybercrime. The pack had turned on Iceman and was running with DarkMarket.

By December 2006 the DarkMarketeers were doing a sterling job. Ji1Si was proud of his achievements - at last he was a respected family member, recognised for his selfless and efficient work. He had built up a great team: Matrix, Master Splyntr and Cha0 were first-class administrators, and all members had confidence in their escrow service. Shtirlitz and Lord Cyric provided back up and cred- ibility. They were quick to spot rippers and scammers, summarily dealing with these bottom feeders whenever they emerged from the cyber sewers. Ever more deals were being struck between members, and the revenues began their ascent towards the golden days of Shadowcrew and CarderPlanet.

It had been more than two years since the Shadowcrew bust and a sense of complacency had also set in. The 'lone wolves', who now comprised a minority on the boards, never let their guard down. They took care not to incriminate themselves. Recka, the fraud king from