A Kosovo national, Liridon Masurica, has pleaded guilty to operating BlackDB.cc, a major cybercrime marketplace that facilitated the sale of stolen data from 2018 to 2025. Masurica, also known online as "@blackdb," faces a potential sentence of up to 55 years in federal prison for his role in the illicit operation.
Key Takeaways
- Liridon Masurica, a Kosovo national, has pleaded guilty to running the BlackDB.cc cybercrime marketplace.
- The marketplace sold compromised credentials, personal information, and credit card details, primarily targeting U.S. individuals.
- Masurica faces up to 55 years in prison if convicted on all charges.
- The investigation was a joint effort between the FBI and Kosovo Police.
The BlackDB Marketplace
Masurica, 33, led BlackDB.cc, an online hub where cybercriminals could purchase a variety of stolen data. This included compromised server credentials, personally identifiable information (PII), and credit card details. The data predominantly belonged to individuals in the United States and was used for illicit activities such as identity theft, tax fraud, and credit card fraud.
Legal Proceedings and International Cooperation
Masurica was arrested by Kosovo authorities on December 14, 2024, and subsequently extradited to the United States on May 9, 2025. He appeared in court in Tampa on May 12, 2025. The charges against him include five counts of fraudulent use of unauthorized access devices and one count of conspiracy to commit access device fraud.
The investigation and extradition were a collaborative effort involving the FBI, the Kosovo Police’s Cybercrime Investigation Directorate, the Department of Justice’s Office of International Affairs, and the FBI’s Legal Attaché Office in Sofia. This international cooperation highlights the global commitment to combating cybercrime.
Broader Crackdown on Cybercrime
The apprehension of Masurica is part of a larger, ongoing international effort to dismantle cybercrime operations. Recent months have seen several significant law enforcement actions, including:
- The seizure of the Rydox cybercrime marketplace and the arrest of its administrators in December 2024.
- The shutdown of Germany’s largest online cybercrime marketplaces, Crimenetwork and Manson market.
- The arrest of the alleged administrator of the Russian-speaking hacking forum XSS by Ukrainian authorities.
- The detention of five operators of the BreachForums hacking forum in France.
These actions underscore the increasing success of global law enforcement in disrupting and prosecuting those involved in the cybercrime ecosystem.
