A growing black market has emerged around AI training platforms, where contractors’ accounts for firms like Scale AI, Surge AI, and Mercor are being illegally bought and sold on Facebook, WhatsApp, and Telegram.
Business Insider identified more than 100 groups offering “verified” accounts used to access data-labeling work that often pays over $100 per hour. Meta removed several groups after the outlet flagged them.
Inside the shadow market for AI training accounts https://t.co/GrZ9JptNYK
— Insider Tech (@TechInsider) December 1, 2025
The account trade exploits screening gaps, geo-restrictions, and demand for U.S.-based accounts. Contractors in Kenya and the U.S. described VPN masking, shadow proxies, and guidebooks that teach users to evade platform safeguards.
Companies warn the practice risks data leaks, worker scams, and compromised AI-training quality.
Internal documents show Scale AI has battled fraud, duplicate accounts, and VPN misuse for years, even banning entire regions to curb cheating.
Industry leaders say the underground market has grown as sophisticated as bank fraud, fueling an escalating “arms race” between platforms and scammers.
Also read:
TIPP Staff
TIPP Staff
