WeTheNorth Safety Tips & Best Practices 2025
Your complete safety guide for WeTheNorth Market. Learn to avoid scams, recognize phishing attacks, maintain operational security, practice harm reduction, and understand legal risks. Every tip here can protect your funds, freedom, or life.
Why Safety Knowledge Matters
Every year, darknet market users lose money to scams, get arrested due to poor OPSEC, or experience health emergencies from untested substances. Almost all of this is preventable.
The guides on this wiki cover technical details. This page is different. It's about mindset, habits, and practical wisdom that keeps you safe. Read it. Internalize it. Follow it.
Three categories of risk exist on WeTheNorth:
- Financial Risk: Scams, phishing, exit scams, stolen funds
- Legal Risk: Arrest, prosecution, imprisonment, asset seizure
- Health Risk: Adulterated substances, overdose, unknown interactions
This guide addresses all three.
Avoiding Scams
- Check vendor ratings and verified reviews before purchasing
- Never Finalize Early (FE) unless vendor is highly trusted
- Be wary of too-good-to-be-true prices
- Verify PGP-signed communications from vendors
Operational Security (OPSEC)
- Use dedicated device for darknet access (Tails OS recommended)
- Never discuss orders through unencrypted channels
- Avoid accessing from public WiFi
- Clear browser data after each session
Harm Reduction
- Start with small test orders from new vendors
- Research substances before purchasing
- Never mix substances without research
- Keep emergency contacts available
🔍 Smart Vendor Selection
Choosing the right vendor is your first line of defense against scams. Here's how to evaluate vendors systematically.
Key Metrics to Check
📊 Sales Volume
Look for vendors with 100+ completed sales minimum. More sales = more verification. New vendors with zero sales are highest risk. Not impossible they're legitimate, but proceed with extreme caution.
⭐ Feedback Rating
Target 95%+ positive feedback. Anything below 90% is a red flag. Read negative reviews carefully - isolated shipping delays are different from multiple scam accusations.
📅 Account Age
Older accounts are generally more trustworthy. A vendor with 2+ years on WeTheNorth has survived multiple market cycles. New accounts could be exit-scamming veterans under new identities.
📝 Recent Reviews
Read the most recent 10-20 reviews. Old positive reviews don't matter if recent ones are negative. Vendors can decline over time. Quality changes. Service changes.
💬 Communication Quality
Send a pre-sale question. Legitimate vendors respond professionally within 24 hours. Vague answers, poor grammar, or pressure to order quickly are warning signs.
Test Order Strategy
First time with any vendor? Make a small test order. Order the minimum quantity. If it arrives as described, consider larger orders. One successful order doesn't mean the vendor is perfect, but it's better than blind trust.
🚩 Scam Red Flags - Recognize These Immediately
If you see any of these, stop. Walk away. No deal is worth getting scammed.
Too Good To Be True Prices
If a vendor's prices are 50%+ below competitors, it's almost certainly a scam. Scammers lure victims with unrealistic deals. Real vendors have real costs. If prices don't make business sense, something's wrong.
Requests for Finalize Early (FE)
Legitimate vendors don't need FE. If a vendor pressures you to release escrow before delivery, it's a scam setup. WeTheNorth's escrow exists to protect you. Don't give it up voluntarily.
New Vendor with No Reviews
Zero sales, zero feedback? Maximum risk. These accounts cost little to create and abandon. If you must order from new vendors, make tiny test orders only.
Off-Platform Communication
Vendors asking to move to Telegram, Wickr, Session, or email are setting up scams. They want to bypass marketplace escrow. Legitimate business stays on marketplace. No exceptions.
Generic Product Photos
Stock photos downloaded from the internet indicate the vendor doesn't actually have the product. Look for unique photos with handwritten timestamps or vendor watermarks.
No PGP Key / Won't Use PGP
WeTheNorth requires vendors to use PGP encryption. Any vendor who can't or won't use PGP is either incompetent or fraudulent. Either way, avoid them.
Pressure Tactics
"Order now, price goes up tomorrow!" "Only 2 left!" "Limited time offer!" Legitimate vendors don't need high-pressure sales tactics. This behavior screams scam.
Sudden Reputation Change
Established vendor suddenly getting multiple negative reviews? They might be exit scamming. Old reputation doesn't protect against current bad behavior.
🔒 Protecting Against Phishing Attacks
Phishing is the #1 threat on darknet markets. Scammers create pixel-perfect WeTheNorth clones to steal your credentials and funds. One wrong click can cost everything.
How Phishing Works
Phishing sites look identical to the real WeTheNorth Market. Same colors. Same layout. Same features - until you login. Then they capture your username and password, often draining your account within minutes.
These fake sites are distributed through:
- Fake link directories on clearnet
- Compromised forum posts
- Telegram groups claiming to have "official" links
- Messages from accounts impersonating market staff
- Search engine results (yes, even on Tor)
How to Avoid Phishing
🔗 Bookmark Verified .onion URLs
After PGP-verifying a link from official Dread announcements, bookmark it immediately. Never search for links. Never trust links from messages. Use your bookmark every time.
🖼️ Check Anti-Phishing Image
Your custom security image must display on the login page before you enter your password. No image = phishing site. Wrong image = phishing site. Close immediately.
🔤 Verify URL Character by Character
Even one character difference means phishing. wethenth0rth (with zero) vs wethenorth (with letter O). Attackers use lookalike characters. Verify every character.
📝 Use Mnemonic Code
Real WeTheNorth shows your personal mnemonic phrase on the login page. Phishing sites can't display it because they don't have it. No mnemonic = not the real site.
🚫 Never Click Links in Messages
Type your bookmarked .onion address manually every time. Links in messages - even from trusted users - could lead to phishing sites. Their account might be compromised.
🛡️ Operational Security Best Practices
OPSEC (operational security) is the discipline of protecting yourself from identification and prosecution. Every action leaves traces. Good OPSEC minimizes those traces.
🔐 Use Tor Browser - Always
Never access WeTheNorth through regular browsers. Never use clearnet mirrors for actual activity. Tor provides anonymity. Clearnet provides evidence.
🌐 VPN Before Tor
Connect to VPN before launching Tor. Your ISP won't see Tor traffic - only VPN traffic. Use a VPN that doesn't keep logs and accepts anonymous payment.
📍 Shipping Address Strategy
Never ship to your home address if avoidable. Options include PO boxes, drop addresses, and abandoned buildings (risky). Rotate addresses periodically. Patterns are identifiable.
💰 Cryptocurrency Hygiene
Use Monero instead of Bitcoin. Never buy crypto on KYC exchanges for darknet use. Don't send directly from exchange to marketplace. Use intermediate wallets.
📱 Device Separation
Ideally use a dedicated device for marketplace activity. Tails OS on USB is excellent. At minimum, use a separate browser profile with no connection to your real identity.
🗣️ Never Talk About It
Don't tell friends. Don't post on social media. Don't brag. Many arrests happen because someone talked. The safest secret is one nobody knows.
⚖️ Legal Awareness & Risk Understanding
Participation in darknet marketplaces carries serious legal risks. Understanding these risks is essential for informed decision-making.
Legal Reality
- Possession, purchase, or sale of controlled substances is illegal in virtually all jurisdictions
- Law enforcement actively monitors darknet markets (Operation Dark HunTor, Operation DisrupTor, Operation SpecTor)
- Package interception can lead to controlled deliveries and arrests
- Marketplace seizures expose user data to authorities (Empire, AlphaBay, Hansa)
- International shipping dramatically increases customs risk and legal exposure
- Even small personal-use quantities can result in trafficking charges
Risk Mitigation Strategies (Not Legal Advice)
We don't provide legal advice. These are general observations about risk factors:
- Know your jurisdiction: Research laws specifically in your area before any activity
- Domestic shipping: Within-Canada shipping avoids customs entirely
- Quantity matters: Smaller quantities attract less law enforcement attention
- Never sign for packages: Required signatures create evidence linking you to the package
- Plausible deniability: Anyone can send anything to any address. Receiving ≠ ordering (but this defense has limits)
🏥 Harm Reduction Principles
If you're purchasing substances, your health and safety matter more than anything else. Harm reduction saves lives. These practices are non-negotiable.
🧪 Test Everything
Use reagent test kits to verify product identity and detect adulterants. Services like DanceSafe and BunkPolice sell testing kits. Fentanyl test strips are specifically critical - fentanyl contamination kills.
Testing resources: dancesafe.org, bfrp.org, drugsdata.org
📏 Start with Small Doses
Unknown purity levels make overdose risk unpredictable. Start with 1/4 of expected dose. Wait 1-2 hours. Assess effects before taking more. You can always take more. You can't take less.
👥 Never Use Alone
Have a trusted person present when using substances. If that's not possible, use the "Never Use Alone" hotline - they'll stay on the phone with you and call emergency services if you stop responding.
💊 Carry Naloxone (Narcan)
Naloxone reverses opioid overdoses. It's available without prescription in most areas. Having it on hand saves lives. Learn how to use it before you need it.
📚 Research Before Using
Understand dosage, effects, duration, interactions, and contraindications BEFORE using any substance. Knowledge prevents emergencies.
Research resources: Erowid.org, PsychonautWiki.org, TripSit.me
🚫 Know Drug Interactions
Some combinations are deadly. MAOI inhibitors + stimulants. Opioids + benzodiazepines. Research interactions before combining anything.
Interaction checker: TripSit.me/factsheets
🚑 Emergency Resources
If you or someone you know needs help, these resources are available:
Overdose Emergency
Call 911 / local emergency services immediately. Good Samaritan laws protect callers from prosecution in most jurisdictions. Don't let fear of legal consequences stop you from calling. A life is more important.
Never Use Alone Hotline (US)
1-800-484-3731 - Operators stay on the line while you use substances. If you stop responding, they send help to your location.
Poison Control (US)
1-800-222-1222 - 24/7 assistance for poisoning emergencies and substance questions.
Crisis Text Line
Text HOME to: 741741 (US), 686868 (Canada), 85258 (UK) for crisis support.
SAMHSA National Helpline (US)
1-800-662-4357 - Free, confidential treatment referrals and information 24/7.
✅ Safety Quick Reference Checklist
Before every order, run through this checklist:
- ☑ Accessing through Tor Browser with VPN active
- ☑ Using bookmarked, PGP-verified .onion address
- ☑ Anti-phishing image and mnemonic code verified
- ☑ Vendor has 95%+ rating with 100+ sales
- ☑ Recent reviews are positive and specific
- ☑ Not being asked to FE or communicate off-platform
- ☑ Price is reasonable (not too good to be true)
- ☑ Paying with Monero from anonymous source
- ☑ Shipping address is secure and rotated
- ☑ Have test kits ready for when product arrives
- ☑ Will not be using alone
Continue Learning
These safety tips are your foundation. Explore our other guides for more detailed coverage of specific topics.