Carding (from the English word "card work") is a form of cybercrime in which criminals steal, buy, sell, or use payment card data (card numbers, CVV codes, expiration dates, cardholder names) to conduct unauthorized transactions. This can include online purchases, ATM withdrawals, or even "cashouts" (converting digital funds into real money). Carding is not an isolated phenomenon: it is deeply integrated into the global cybercrime ecosystem, where card data acts as a universal "currency" for exchange, monetization, and financing of more complex crimes.
This ecosystem resembles an organized economy: from the extraction of "raw materials" (data theft) to distribution (through darknet markets) and end consumption (fraud). According to the Chainalysis 2024 report, the global cybercrime volume exceeds $10 trillion annually, of which carding and related schemes account for 15-20%. For educational purposes, it's important to understand that carding not only harms victims (the average loss per card is $200-500) but also fuels a chain of crimes, including terrorism and money laundering. Below, we'll break down the connections step by step.
This chain illustrates how carding enhances the ecosystem's resilience: if one stage is blocked (for example, by a bank), criminals move on to another, using the data for "hybrid" attacks.
Trading is stable: after raids (like Operation Dark HunTOR 2021, which shut down 150 markets), new ones emerge (based on Solana or private networks). Cryptocurrency (Monero for anonymity) is the primary payment method, with 80% of trades being escrowed.
Countermeasures (to understand resilience):
In an educational context, carding teaches ethics: it shows how the internet's anonymity monetizes harm, emphasizing the importance of cyberhygiene. For more in-depth information, I recommend reports from Chainalysis ("Crypto Crime Report 2024"), Flashpoint ("Dark Web Intelligence"), and Europol ("IOCTA 2023") — all available free online. If you need clarification on any aspect, please ask!
This ecosystem resembles an organized economy: from the extraction of "raw materials" (data theft) to distribution (through darknet markets) and end consumption (fraud). According to the Chainalysis 2024 report, the global cybercrime volume exceeds $10 trillion annually, of which carding and related schemes account for 15-20%. For educational purposes, it's important to understand that carding not only harms victims (the average loss per card is $200-500) but also fuels a chain of crimes, including terrorism and money laundering. Below, we'll break down the connections step by step.
The stages of carding and their connection to the cybercrime ecosystem
Carding is a multi-stage process, each step intersecting with other types of cybercrime. Here's a detailed breakdown:| Stage | Description | Connection to the cybercrime ecosystem | Examples of tools/methods |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Data Theft (Data Acquisition) | Attackers obtain raw card data through hacking, phishing, or malware. | This is the initial "entry" into the ecosystem: card data is often mined in conjunction with other assets (logins, passwords), fueling supply chain attacks. It overlaps with ransomware (where cards are a "bonus" to the ransom) and DDoS (to distract from hacks). | - Phishing sites (imitating banking portals). - Trojans like Zeus or Emotet, stealing data from POS terminals. - Database hacks (SQL injections in e-commerce sites, as in the 2017 Equifax leak that affected 147 million cards). |
| 2. Validation & Cleaning | They check the validity of the data and remove "dead" cards. | Here, "bundles" are formed for sale, integrating with stolen account markets. Linked to social engineering: carders exchange "types" (phishing templates) on forums. | - "Checkers" (online services that test cards for small amounts, $0.01). - Card number generators (using the Luhn algorithm). - Forums like Carding Mafia for exchange. |
| 3. Monetization (Exploitation) | Use cards for purchases, transfers or withdrawals. | It finances other crimes: the proceeds are resold for laundering, and the proceeds are used to purchase weapons and drugs on the darknet. It overlaps with crypto fraud (conversion to BTC). | - Purchase of electronics/gift cards for resale. - Cashout through mules (intermediaries receiving parcels). - Attacks on crypto exchanges (like Mt. Gox 2014). |
| 4. Laundering and Reinvestment | Convert profits into "net" assets. | Creates a circular ecosystem: funds are reinvested in new hacks or malware hosting. Links to organized crime (mafia, cartels). | - Cryptocurrency mixers (Tornado Cash, before its blocking in 2022). - Shell companies for transferring funds. - Purchasing servers for phishing. |
This chain illustrates how carding enhances the ecosystem's resilience: if one stage is blocked (for example, by a bank), criminals move on to another, using the data for "hybrid" attacks.
The Role of Darknet Data Markets: A Central Hub for the Ecosystem
The darknet is the internet's "shadow economy," accessible through anonymizing networks like Tor or I2P. Here, carding thrives as an organized marketplace where card data is traded openly, with reviews and guarantees. Darknet marketplaces are not chaos, but rather a structured platform reminiscent of eBay: with catalogs, escrow (protected transactions), and arbitration. According to the Flashpoint 2024 report, 1–2 million card records are traded on the darknet daily, with a total turnover of over $2 billion per year.Key types of markets and products
- Specialty card shops: Focus on these cards. Examples:
- Joker's Stash (closed in 2021, $100 million in turnover): Selling "dumps" (magnetic card stripes) for $10–30 each. Replaced by UniCC (closed in 2023) and similar services like BidenCash.
- Ferum Shop or Trump's Dumps: Categorized by country (USA - premium, $20-50; Russia - budget, $5-10). They add "fullz" (full profiles: card + passport + SSN).
- Universal marketplaces: Integrate carding with other crimes.
- Dread (a forum like the Reddit of the dark web): Discuss tactics, exchange "scripts" for automation.
- Empire Market (before closing in 2020): Sections for cards, drugs, and weapons—demonstrates how carding funds trafficking.
- Hybrid platforms: Telegram channels and Discord servers (less anonymous, but convenient). Example: @CardingWorld – a chat for beginners with tutorials.
Pricing and trade dynamics
Prices depend on quality and risk:| Data type | Description | Average price (USD) | Risk/Ecosystem Linkage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bin-attack | Generating numbers by BIN (the first 6 digits of the bank). | $1–5 per 100 numbers | Low risk; used for bulk testing. Communication: Automates phishing. |
| CVV dump | Only number + CVV + date. | $5–15 | Medium; for online purchases. Connection: Bundled with identity theft accounts. |
| Fullz | Full profile (card + personal data). | $20–100 | High; for deep fraud. Connection: fuels attacks on loans/banks. |
| Tracks | Magnetic strip for cloning. | $15–40 | High; for physical carding. Communication: Intersects with ATM skimming. |
Trading is stable: after raids (like Operation Dark HunTOR 2021, which shut down 150 markets), new ones emerge (based on Solana or private networks). Cryptocurrency (Monero for anonymity) is the primary payment method, with 80% of trades being escrowed.
Integration with other darknet segments
- Knowledge sharing: Forums like XSS.is or Exploit.in are "universities" for carders, with courses on "Socks5" (IP masking proxy) and "VPN rotation."
- Cross-crime: Hackers buy card data for ransomware (financing) or botnets (distributing Trojans). Example: WannaCry (2017) used card data for ransom payments.
- Global chains: Carders from Russia/Ukraine supply data to Asian/Latin American groups for local cashout.
Broad implications and countermeasures
Carding strengthens the ecosystem, creating a "domino effect": $1 billion stolen in cards generates $3-5 billion in related crimes (Europol 2023 report). Victims range from individual users to corporations (Target breach 2013: 40 million cards, $300 million in losses). Socially, this erodes trust in finance, driving up insurance prices.Countermeasures (to understand resilience):
- Technologies: 3D Secure (two-factor authentication), AI transaction monitoring (Visa detects 90% of fraud).
- Operations: Interpol's Operation HAECHI (2023) arrested 400 carders, confiscating $50 million.
- Prevention: Education (don't click suspicious links) and regulations (PSD2 in the EU for secure payments).
In an educational context, carding teaches ethics: it shows how the internet's anonymity monetizes harm, emphasizing the importance of cyberhygiene. For more in-depth information, I recommend reports from Chainalysis ("Crypto Crime Report 2024"), Flashpoint ("Dark Web Intelligence"), and Europol ("IOCTA 2023") — all available free online. If you need clarification on any aspect, please ask!
