How Darknet Markets Work to Sell Skimmed Data in the Context of Carding
Carding is a type of cybercrime that involves using stolen credit, debit, or other financial card data to conduct fraudulent transactions, such as making purchases, withdrawing cash, or reselling the data. Skimmed data (obtained using skimmers, devices that read information from magnetic stripes or chips on cards) is a key resource in carding. Darknet markets serve as the primary platform for trading such data, providing anonymity and infrastructure for the illicit economy. Below is a detailed look at the structure of the darknet, how markets work, examples of platforms, and types of data in the context of carding, with an emphasis on educational purposes to understand the mechanisms and risks.The structure of the darknet in the context of carding
The darknet is a segment of the internet hidden from regular search engines and accessible only through anonymizing networks such as Tor (The Onion Router), I2P or Freenet . For carding, Tor is the main tool, as it provides pseudonymity through multi-layered data encryption, redirecting traffic through several nodes (relays). In 2025, Tor handles about 2.5 million active users daily, of which a significant portion (up to 60% by estimates) is associated with illegal activity, including carding.Key elements of the darknet structure for carding:
- Onion services (.onion): Sites where the hosting is hidden and the IP addresses are masked. Carding markets, forums and chats operate on such domains, ensuring the anonymity of sellers and buyers.
- Markets (Darknet Markets, DNMs): Platforms similar to e-commerce sites where skimmed data, fake documents, carding tools (skimmers, card clones) and services (for example, "obnal" - withdrawal of money from stolen cards) are sold.
- Forums: Sites like Dread (similar to Reddit), Exploit.in or XSS.is are used to share experiences, discuss skimming techniques, find suppliers or "cashers". They also contain seller ratings and reviews.
- Directories: Sites like Hidden Wiki or OnionDir provide lists of active .onion links to markets and forums. However, these often contain phishing links, so be careful.
- Cryptocurrencies: The main payment methods are Bitcoin (less anonymous) and Monero (more private, dominating in 2025). Transactions are made through escrow (the market holds funds until the transaction is confirmed) or, less commonly, directly.
- Migration and resilience: Markets are often shut down by authorities (e.g. Silk Road in 2013, Hydra in 2022, BidenCash in 2025) but quickly re-emerge under new domains. This is ensured by decentralization and database backups.
Technical aspects:
- Access requires Tor Browser or a configured proxy. Users must adhere to OpSec (operational security): do not use real names, use a VPN in front of Tor, avoid JavaScript (vulnerable to deanonymization).
- Markets use PGP encryption for communications between buyers and sellers to protect transaction details.
- In 2025, Tor is subject to correlation attacks (comparing the entry/exit times of traffic), making it important to use bridges (obfs4) to bypass blocks in censored countries.
Carding Economy: According to Chainalysis (2024), financial data-related darknet markets generated around $1.7 billion in turnover, of which 20-25% was skimmed data. The average market handles 10,000-50,000 lots daily, with fees of 2-10% per trade.
How Darknet Markets for Skimmed Data Work
Darknet carding markets operate as well-organized trading platforms with a clear supply chain. Skimmed data is the result of physical skimmers (devices on ATMs, gas stations, POS terminals) or digital ones (malware, phishing). Markets connect data "producers" (hackers, skimmer installers) with buyers (carders, resellers, cashers).The market process:
- Registration and access:
- The user accesses the market's .onion address (e.g. Abacus Market ) via Tor.
- Registration requires a login, password, and sometimes a PGP key for encryption. Sellers are verified (e.g., a crypto deposit or reputation check on forums).
- Buyers can be anonymous, but large transactions require trust (ratings, reviews).
- Publication of lots:
- Sellers upload data in the form of "lots" with a description: data type (dumps, CVV, fullz), country of origin, bank, freshness (for example, "skimmed 24 hours ago"), card balance/limit.
- Examples: "US Visa Gold, $5000 limit, CVV + dump, $25" or "EU Mastercard fullz, SSN + DOB, $80".
- Lots are checked by moderators (for validity, duplicates). Often sellers offer a "check" - a test card for free.
- Search and purchase:
- Buyers use filters: by country (US/EU is more expensive, Asia is cheaper), card type (Visa/Mastercard), BIN (bank identifier), validity (verified data is more expensive).
- Payment via cryptocurrency (Monero preferred due to Bitcoin tracing). Mid-market in 2025 supports multi-signature wallets for security.
- Escrow holds funds until delivery is confirmed. Some marketplaces offer "FE" (finalize early) for trusted sellers, but this is risky.
- Data delivery:
- After payment, the buyer receives an encrypted file (via PGP) or a link to the cloud (for example, MEGA with deletion after download).
- Format: text files (.txt, .csv) with card numbers, CVV, expiration date, sometimes PII (name, address, SSN).
- Example of a dump line: Track 1: %B4111111111111111^SMITH/JOHN^2605101000000000?; Track 2: 4111111111111111=2605101000000000.
- Reputation and reviews:
- After the transaction, the buyer leaves a review: "90% valid cards, quick response" or "data burned, seller ignores".
- The seller's reputation affects sales. Top sellers have thousands of reviews and the "trusted vendor" status.
- Risks and protection:
- For buyers: Low-quality data ("burned" cards, already blocked), phishing markets, scammers.
- For sellers: Competition (prices fall during mass dumps), risks of deanonymization.
- For markets: DDoS attacks, government intervention. In 2025, markets use decentralized mirrors and backup domains.
Data carding techniques:
- Offline carding: Dumps are written to cloned cards (via devices like MSR605) for in-store purchases or cash withdrawals.
- Online carding: CVV is used for purchases on sites without 3D-Secure (VBV/MCSC). Carders use proxies, geolocation substitution and "clean" accounts.
- Cashing out: Transferring money through dummy accounts, crypto exchangers or "drops" (people providing accounts for a percentage).
- Resale: Data is sorted (by BIN, limit) and resold in bulk.
Economy: In 2024–2025, skimmed data makes up 20–30% of the darknet market (around $400–500 million). Average price per card: $5–$30 (dumps), $10–$50 (CVV), $20–$150 (fullz). Mass leaks (e.g. 2 million cards from BidenCash in 2024) drive prices down, but demand remains high.
Examples of carding sites
Markets for skimmed data are divided into general (trading everything from data to drugs) and specialized (only data). Below are the key platforms in 2025, based on reports and darknet monitoring. The exact .onion addresses are not listed, as they change and may be phishing.| Playground | Description | Specialization in carding | Status (2025) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abacus Market | Leader after Mega Darknet closure. >40,000 lots, 10,000+ active users. | Dumps, CVV, fullz. Filters by BIN, country, bank. Prices: $5–$110 per card. Monero support. | Active, $15–20 million annual turnover. |
| BriansClub | Has been operating since 2014, specializing in finance. >8 million cards in the database. | Skimmed dumps (Track 1/2), CVV, fullz. Weekly batches (50,000+ cards). | Active despite 26 million card leak in 2019. |
| STYX Market | Launched in 2023, focus on financial fraud. | BIN lists, dumps, stealer logs with maps. Prices: $10–$70 for quality dumps. | Active, growing through anonymity. |
| Russian Market | Russian-speaking, since 2019. >10,000 lots of data. | CVV, dumps, RDP access, credentials. Popular for EU/US cards. | Active, switched to Monero. |
| Exodus Market | Successor to Genesis, focus on malware and data. | Stealer logs (including skim), fullz. Prices: $5–$50 per log. | Active, but less carding. |
Closed areas:
- BidenCash (2022–2025): Largest data marketplace, >117,000 users, 2M+ cards. Shut down by FBI in June 2025, $17M seized.
- Hydra (2015–2022): Russian-language giant, closed in 2022. Remnants migrated to Telegram and smaller markets.
- UniCC (2013–2022): Cards leader, closed voluntarily. Turnover $1 billion.
Alternatives: Telegram channels (e.g. "Carding World") and Jabber chats are replacing the darknet for quick deals. They are less anonymous, but popular in the CIS.
Types of skimmed data for carding
Skimmed data is information stolen from cards through physical skimmers (ATMs, gas stations, POS) or digital (keyloggers, phishing, malware like RedLine). They are divided into categories, each of which has its own applications in carding.| Data type | Description | Prices (2025) | Application in carding |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dumps | Magnetic stripe data (Track 1/Track 2) or chip: card number, expiration date, CVV, sometimes PIN. Obtained through skimmers at ATMs/POS. | $5–$30 (US/EU: $20–$30, Asia: $5–$10). Depends on limit and freshness. | Card cloning (writing to plastic via MSR605). Used for offline purchases or cash withdrawals. |
| CVV/CVV2 | Security code (3-4 digits), card number, expiration date. Often from skimmers or phishing. | $10–$25 per card. Verified: up to $50. | Online shopping on sites without 3D-Secure. Carders use proxies and "clean" accounts. |
| Fullz | Full profile: card number, CVV, name, address, SSN, DOB, sometimes selfie/passport. | $20–$100 (US/EU high limit: up to $150). | Identity theft, account opening, credit fraud, complex cashing out. |
| Stealer logs | Malware logs (RedLine, Vidar): passwords, cookies, maps from browsers. Often include skim data. | $5–$50 per log (depending on volume). | Access to bank accounts, PayPal, crypto wallets. |
| BIN lists | Bank identifiers (the first 6 digits of the card) for selecting cards for specific banks. | $50–$500 for a base. | Filtering cards for targeted fraud (e.g. high-limit Visa). |
| Map bases (wholesale) | Millions of records from major leaks/skims. | $1–$2 million for 1–2 million cards. | Resale, mass fraud, analysis for narrow targeting. |
Data quality:
- Freshness: Data <24 hours old is valued higher (90%+ validity). "Burnt" cards (already blocked) are sold for $1–$5.
- Geography: US/EU cards are more expensive (high limits, weak 3D-Secure). Asian/Latvian ones are cheaper.
- Verification: Sellers offer "checker services" (validity check via third-party services). Valid cards (>80%) cost more.
Data sources:
- Physical skimmers: Installed on ATMs, gas stations, POS terminals. In 2025, Bluetooth skimmers are popular (transmit data in real time).
- Digital skimmers: Malware (RedLine, AgentTesla), phishing sites, hacked POS systems (e.g. attack on Target in 2013, 40 million cards).
- Leaks: Major breaches (Equifax, Capital One) add PII to skim data, increasing its value.
Application in carding:
- Direct fraud: Purchases of electronics, luxury goods, gift cards (Amazon, iTunes).
- Cashing out: Transfer to fictitious accounts, crypto exchangers or through droppers (people who cash out for 20-50% of the amount).
- Card-not-present (CNP): Online transactions without a physical card. Carders bypass 3D-Secure through social engineering or weak merchants.
- Resale: Data is sorted (by limit, bank) and sold in bulk to other carders.
Risks and protection
Risks for carding participants:- Buyers: Low quality data, phishing markets, arrest during cashing out.
- Vendors: Deanonymization (OpSec bugs, blockchain analysis), competition, DDoS attacks.
- Markets: Government shutdowns (FBI, Europol), internal scam attacks (admins "exit scam" - steal crypto and disappear).
Risks to victims:
- Financial losses: Average damage from carding is $500–$2000 per card.
- Identity Theft: Fullz Used for Loans, Tax Fraud
- In 2024, 1.5 billion cards were compromised globally (Gemalto).
Protection against skimming and carding:
- For users: Use cards with a chip (EMV is harder to skim), check ATMs for skimmers (wiggle the slot), enable 2FA, monitor the darknet (services like Have I Been Pwned).
- For researchers: Use Tor with VPN, avoid JavaScript, check .onion links via forums. Don't download files from markets (malware risk).
- For banks: Anti-skimmers on ATMs, AI transaction monitoring, 3D-Secure for online payments.
Legislation: Carding and trading in skim data is illegal (in the US - up to 7 years under 18 USC § 1029). In 2025, Interpol and Europol stepped up operations against the markets, seizing $50 million+ since 2023.
Conclusion
Darknet markets for skimmed data are a complex ecosystem that support carding via anonymous platforms, cryptocurrencies, and a sophisticated reputation system. They have evolved from Silk Road to today's Abacus and STYX, adapting to government attacks. Skimmed data (dumps, CVV, fullz) is a key commodity used for direct fraud, cashing out, and identity theft. Understanding how they work is important for cybersecurity, fraud prevention, and user protection.Important: This information is provided for educational purposes only. Participating in carding or accessing darknet markets is illegal and carries high risks. For protection, use antivirus software, 2FA, and leak monitoring. If you are a researcher, maintain strict OpSec and avoid interacting with illegal content.
