A 27-year-old Ukrainian man, Yurii Nazarenko, has pleaded guilty to creating and operating OnlyFake, an online platform that used artificial intelligence to produce and sell thousands of fake IDs. Nazarenko, also known by the aliases “John Wick,” “Tor Ford,” and “Uriel Septimerus,” allegedly placed more than 10,000 realistic digital IDs, earning hundreds of thousands of dollars.
The case highlights a new generation of criminal services, where AI turns document forgery into an automated, low-cost, high-performance, mass activity.
How the OnlyFake platform worked
According to the indictment, OnlyFake provided the ability to create digital versions of driver's licenses for all 50 U.S. states, U.S. passports and passport cards, as well as identity documents from approximately 56 other countries. The service operated on a subscription model and exclusively accepted payments in cryptocurrency.
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Customers could fully customize document details, select random data or enter specific information, and choose whether the final result would be presented as a scan or as a photo taken on a surface to make it look more authentic. The use of artificial intelligence allowed the production of realistic textures, stamps and other elements, making documents difficult to detect with simple checks.
KYC bypass and financial crimes
Federal prosecutors in New York alleged that the primary use of the fake documents was to circumvent Know Your Customer (KYC) procedures at banks and cryptocurrency exchanges. These controls, imposed by the Patriot Act in the United States, among other things, are aimed at preventing money laundering and terrorist financing.
As U.S. Attorney Jay Clayton stated , authorities’ reliance on reliable identification documents is critical to combating serious crime . The mass availability of realistic fake IDs undermines this foundation of trust and creates opportunities for fraud, tax evasion, and cross-border illicit transactions.
Secret shopping and digital footprints
Between May and June 2024, undercover FBI agents made multiple purchases on the platform, obtaining fake New York State IDs, U.S. passports, and Social Security cards. The transactions confirmed the quality and functionality of the documents.
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OnlyFake even offered “wholesale packages” of up to 1,000 documents at a discount, suggesting a clientele that went beyond the individual user. Nazarenko allegedly attempted to cover his tracks by routing payments through multiple crypto wallets and deleting emails after a revealing 404 Media report in February 2024.
According to FBI Assistant Director James C. Barnacle Jr., the platform opened up “a wealth of criminal opportunities,” allowing the circumvention of regulatory mechanisms designed to protect the financial system.
Extradition, seizure and criminal consequences
Nazarenko was extradited from Romania in September 2025 and agreed to forfeit $1.2 million. He faces up to 15 years in prison, with sentencing scheduled for June 26, 2026.
The case demonstrates the shift in criminality in the era of generative AI. Tools designed for creative and professional uses can be transformed into machines for mass fraud when combined with the anonymity of cryptocurrencies and international infrastructure networks.
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For regulators, the challenge is no longer just to detect fake documents, but to strengthen biometric and multi-factor authentication mechanisms. As AI improves, the line between genuine and fake is becoming increasingly blurred, making trust in digital identity one of the biggest challenges of the next decade.
Source: www.bleepingcomputer.com
