Why Safety Matters
The darknet isn't inherently dangerous. But it rewards caution and punishes carelessness. Every successful user shares one thing: they take security seriously.
This guide covers practical safety tips for using DrugHub Market. Not theory. Not paranoia. Real practices that real users follow to stay safe.
Three categories of risk exist in darknet markets:
- Technical Risk: Phishing, malware, deanonymization through poor OPSEC
- Transactional Risk: Scams, selective scamming, exit scams, fraud
- Legal Risk: Law enforcement, customs seizures, prosecution
This guide addresses all three. Read it completely before placing your first order.
⚡ The Golden Rules
- ALWAYS use Tor Browser - Never access without it
- ALWAYS encrypt with PGP - Never send plaintext addresses
- ONLY use Monero (XMR) - Bitcoin is traceable
- NEVER finalize early - You lose escrow protection
- VERIFY .onion addresses - Phishing steals everything
- START SMALL - Test vendors with small orders first
Essential Do's and Don'ts
✅ ALWAYS DO
- Check vendor reviews and ratings
- Use escrow (never direct deals)
- Test substances with reagent kits
- Use fake name for deliveries
- Practice harm reduction
- Read product descriptions fully
❌ NEVER DO
- Finalize early for new vendors
- Share login credentials
- Click external links in messages
- Accept "special deals" via PM
- Sign for packages
- Panic if delivery is late
🎭 Scam Prevention
Scammers are creative. They evolve. Understanding their methods is your best defense.
Common Scam Types
🚫 Phishing Sites
How it works: Fake .onion addresses that look identical to DrugHub. You login, they capture your credentials, drain your wallet.
Prevention:
- Bookmark verified .onion links after PGP verification
- Check URL character-by-character before login
- Verify links on Dread forum with PGP signatures
- Never click links from PMs, emails, or random sources
🚫 Fake Vendors
How it works: New accounts impersonating established vendors. Similar names, copied descriptions. They take orders and never ship.
Prevention:
- Check account age (minimum 3 months for any significant order)
- Verify PGP fingerprint matches known vendor key
- Read recent reviews - look for consistent patterns
- Start with small test orders
- Watch for misspellings in vendor name (VendorName vs VendorNarne)
🚫 Selective Scamming
How it works: Established vendors scam occasionally - usually on large orders or when they sense a buyer won't dispute. They maintain reputation by fulfilling small orders.
Prevention:
- Never place orders larger than your comfort limit
- Always use escrow - no exceptions
- Watch for sudden changes in review patterns
- Check Dread for recent complaints before ordering
🚫 PM Scams
How it works: Scammers pose as admins, support, or vendors. They claim "special deals" or "urgent security updates" and send phishing links or request payment outside escrow.
Prevention:
- Market admins NEVER PM first
- Verify all messages with PGP signatures
- Never click links in PMs
- Never pay outside the market system
🚫 Exit Scams
How it works: Market or vendor suddenly disappears with all held funds. Usually happens after building trust over months or years.
Prevention:
- DrugHub uses walletless escrow - reduces but doesn't eliminate risk
- Never store funds on any market longer than necessary
- Withdraw to personal wallet immediately after transactions
- Diversify across multiple markets for large operations
Red Flags That Indicate Trouble
Watch for these warning signs. Any one of these should increase your caution:
- Market or vendor suddenly requires finalize early (FE)
- Unusual delays in withdrawals or order processing
- Support tickets going unanswered
- Unusual promotions or "limited time" pressure
- Dread discussions mentioning problems
- Vendor becoming defensive when questioned
⭐ Vendor Selection
✅ Green Flags (Good Signs)
- Account age > 6 months
- 100+ successful orders
- Rating 4.8+ stars
- Recent positive reviews
- Detailed product descriptions
- Clear shipping terms
- PGP key in profile
- Responsive to messages
- Lab-verified products
🚩 Red Flags (Avoid)
- Account age < 3 months
- Rating < 4.5 stars
- Negative reviews about non-delivery
- Requests finalize early (FE)
- Offers deals outside market
- No PGP key
- Pressures quick decisions
- Name spelling errors (impersonation)
- Doesn't respond to messages
Reading Reviews
Don't just look at stars! Read review text for:
- Shipping time details
- Stealth packaging quality
- Product accuracy
- Communication quality
- Issue resolution
📦 Order Safety
Safe Ordering Process
- Pre-Order: Verify vendor, read description, prepare XMR, setup PGP
- Placing Order: Encrypt address with vendor PGP, use fake name, fund with XMR
- After Ordering: Wait patiently, don't spam vendor, never sign for packages
- Package Arrival: Accept casually, wait 24-48hrs before opening if suspicious
- After Delivery: Test substance, finalize in escrow period, leave honest review
Shipping Address Safety
Safe: Your residence with fake name on mailbox
Unsafe: Work, PO Box, hotels, abandoned buildings, others' addresses without permission
What If Package Doesn't Arrive?
- Wait full shipping time + 7 days
- Message vendor politely
- Open dispute before auto-finalize
- Provide evidence
🚔 Love Letter (Customs Seizure)
DO: Nothing. Throw away. Wait 2-3 months before ordering again.
DON'T: Respond, contact customs, claim package, or admit knowledge.
🚨 Controlled Delivery
Warning signs: Requires signature, suspicious delivery person, resealed package
Action: NEVER sign suspicious packages. If accepted, wait 48-72hrs before opening. If police arrive: REMAIN SILENT, request lawyer.
💊 Harm Reduction
Essential Practices
🧪 Test Your Substances
- Use reagent test kits
- Test every new batch
- Fentanyl test strips for opioids/powders
⚖️ Start Low, Go Slow
- Start with 1/4 to 1/2 dose
- Wait full duration before redosing
- Darknet quality often higher than street
👥 Never Use Alone
- Have sober friend present
- Use "Never Use Alone" hotline
- Have Naloxone (Narcan) for opioids
📚 Research First
- Know dose ranges (Erowid, PsychonautWiki)
- Understand effects and duration
- Check drug interactions
⚠️ Dangerous Combinations
- Opioids + Benzodiazepines: Respiratory depression, death
- Opioids + Alcohol: Respiratory depression, death
- Stimulants + Alcohol: Masks intoxication
- MDMA + SSRIs: Serotonin syndrome
- Tramadol + Antidepressants: Seizures
⚖️ Legal Risks
Risk Levels
Lower Risk: Small personal quantities, domestic orders, proper OPSEC
Moderate Risk: International orders, larger quantities, Schedule I substances
High Risk: Trafficking amounts, distribution evidence, multiple seizures, poor OPSEC
If Law Enforcement Contacts You
1. REMAIN SILENT
Say: "I invoke my right to remain silent. I want to speak to a lawyer."
Then STOP TALKING.
2. Request Lawyer IMMEDIATELY
Keep repeating: "I want a lawyer"
3. Never Consent to Searches
Say: "I do not consent to any searches"
4. Document Everything
Remember officer names, badge numbers, what was said
Remember: Receiving a package is not proof of guilt. You must have knowledge and intent. Never admit to ordering anything.
🎯 Final Reminders
- ✅ Use escrow always
- ✅ Start with test orders
- ✅ Verify everything
- ✅ Test substances
- ✅ Practice OPSEC
- ✅ Trust your instincts
- ✅ Be patient
- ✅ Learn continuously