# RaidForums

> illicit and defunct online hacking forum

**Wikidata**: [Q112039582](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q112039582)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RaidForums)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/raidforums

## Summary
RaidForums was an illicit and defunct online hacking forum that operated from 2015 until its seizure in 2022. It served as a major platform for doxing and the exchange of compromised data, amassing over half a million registered users before being shut down by law enforcement.

## Key Facts
- **Inception:** 2015
- **End Date:** April 12, 2022
- **Founder/Creator:** Diogo Santos Coelho
- **Primary Use:** Doxing
- **Registered Users:** 530,000
- **Status:** Defunct (Domain seized)
- **Current Owner:** Federal Bureau of Investigation (as of April 12, 2022)
- **Location:** United Kingdom
- **Language:** English
- **Classifications:** Website, Internet forum

## FAQs
### Q: What was the primary purpose of RaidForums?
A: RaidForums was an illicit online hacking forum primarily used for doxing. It functioned as a centralized hub where users could share and access compromised information.

### Q: Who founded RaidForums?
A: The forum was founded and created by Diogo Santos Coelho in 2015. Coelho owned and operated the site until it was seized by authorities in 2022.

### Q: Why is RaidForums no longer active?
A: RaidForums is defunct due to a domain seizure that occurred on April 12, 2022. At that time, ownership of the website was transferred from its creator to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

### Q: How many people used RaidForums?
A: The platform had a significant user base consisting of 530,000 registered users. It was a major English-language community within the illicit hacking scene.

## Why It Matters
RaidForums represented a significant node in the global landscape of cybercrime and illicit data exchange. Operating for seven years, it grew into a massive community of 530,000 registered users, making it one of the most prominent platforms of its kind. Its primary function as a doxing hub facilitated the spread of sensitive information, posing a continuous threat to digital privacy and security. 

The significance of RaidForums is also tied to its high-profile dissolution. The transition of the domain from a private individual in the United Kingdom to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) on April 12, 2022, serves as a landmark example of international law enforcement intervention against cybercrime infrastructure. The seizure effectively dismantled a major channel for illicit activity, highlighting the vulnerabilities of such "underground" forums to legal and technical shutdown. For researchers and law enforcement, the history of RaidForums provides a clear timeline of the lifecycle of an illicit forum, from its inception in 2015 to its eventual end-cause of domain seizure.

## Notable For
- **Massive User Scale:** Hosted a community of 530,000 registered contributors, a high volume for an illicit hacking forum.
- **Law Enforcement Seizure:** Notable for its direct seizure by the FBI, which took ownership of the domain on April 12, 2022.
- **Doxing Specialization:** Specifically recognized in academic and structured data as a primary tool for doxing activities.
- **Longevity:** Maintained active operations for seven years (2015–2022) before being forced offline.

## Body

### Origins and Administration
RaidForums was established in 2015 as an English-language Internet forum. It was founded and created by Diogo Santos Coelho, who remained the owner of the platform throughout its operational lifespan. The entity was based in the United Kingdom and functioned as a set of related web pages served from the raidforums.com domain.

### Platform Usage and Community
The forum was classified as an illicit website. Its primary documented use was doxing, the practice of researching and broadcasting private or identifying information about individuals. During its seven years of operation, the site grew to accommodate 530,000 registered users or contributors. The platform's reach is further evidenced by its presence in multiple Wikipedia languages, including English, French, and Portuguese.

### Domain Seizure and Termination
The operational history of RaidForums concluded on April 12, 2022. The end of the forum was brought about by a domain seizure. On this date, the ownership of the site officially transitioned from Diogo Santos Coelho to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). This event marked the formal end_time for the forum's illicit activities under its original administration.