ABSTRACT
The range of cybercrimes discussed throughout this book illustrates the complexity of these offenses and the unique ways that technology is being used by criminals to hide themselves, make it easier to engage in crime, and connect with others. Since technology is constantly changing, it is diffi cult to know when or how offenders will adopt a new mode of offending based on access to the Internet. Even more real-world oriented crimes can have an online component, as evident in recent news regarding the sale of illicit narcotics like cocaine and methamphetamine. A number of online markets have developed enabling individuals to buy and sell narcotics through various mechanisms internationally. One of these, called the Silk Road , garnered the greatest attention from both researchers and the popular media
due in part to the fact that transactions were paid using bitcoins , a relatively anonymous form of electronic currency (Franklin, 2013 ). The Silk Road began in 2011 operating through websites running on the encrypted and anonymous Tor network (Franklin, 2013 ). The site was created to enable individuals to buy various materials ranging from computer equipment to clothing, though sellers offered various narcotics internationally through a variety of mechanims. In fact, its name was a reference to the trade routes used to transport goods between Europe, India, and Asia throughout history (Franklin, 2013 ).
