An ego network analysis of sextortionists

Bibliographic Data

ID4619404
AuthorsFrédérique Oggier (0000-0003-3141-3118, Nanyang Technological University), Anwitaman Datta (0000-0002-4203-1572, Nanyang Technological University, corresponding author), Silivanxay Phetsouvanh (Nanyang Technological University)
Year2020
Volume10
Issue1
Publication date2020-12-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSocial Network Analysis and Mining (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1869-5450 • E-ISSN: 1869-5469
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s13278-020-00650-x
OpenAlexW3034999443
LanguageEN
Citations received1
References cited17

We consider a particular instance of user interactions in the Bitcoin network, that of interactions among wallet addresses belonging to scammers. Aggregation of multiple inputs and change addresses are common heuristics used to establish relationships among addresses and analyze transaction amounts in the Bitcoin network. We propose a flow centric approach that complements such heuristics, by studying the branching, merger and propagation of Bitcoin flows. We study a recent sextortion campaign by exploring the ego network of known offending wallet addresses. We compare and combine different existing and new heuristics, which allows us to identify (1) Bitcoin addresses of interest (including possible recurrent go-to addresses for the scammers) and (2) relevant Bitcoin flows, from scam Bitcoin addresses to a Binance exchange and to other other scam addresses, that suggest connections among prima facie disparate waves of similar scams

Computer security · Database · Database transaction · Heuristics · Prima facie · Blockchain Technology Applications and Security · Complex Network Analysis Techniques · Computer Science · Peer-to-Peer Network Technologies · Theoretical Computer Science

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