Understanding and Analyzing Appraisal Systems in the Underground Marketplaces

Zhengyi Li

Network and Distributed System Security (NDSS) Symposium 2024 · Day 2 · Platform Security

This talk, presented by Zhengyi Li at the NDSS Symposium, delves into the burgeoning phenomenon of **appraisal systems** within underground online marketplaces. These illicit platforms, much like their legitimate e-commerce counterparts such as Amazon or eBay, employ feedback mechanisms to build trust and assess product quality, a critical function in environments rife with anonymity and potential for fraud. The appraisal system represents a sophisticated evolution of these mechanisms, wherein vendors offer free samples, termed **vouch copies**, to qualified members, or **appraisers**, in exchange for detailed, in-depth technical reviews.