Features of carding in Russia

[chushpan]

Carding in Russia has its own characteristics, which are determined by the specifics of the financial system, the level of technological development, legislation and cultural factors. Russia is both one of the targets for international carders and a region where local fraudsters are active. Let's consider the main aspects of carding in Russia.

1. Popularity of cashless payments​

In Russia, there is a growing popularity of cashless payments:

• Credit and debit cards are becoming the main method of payment in stores and online.
• However, many citizens still use cash, which makes Russia less attractive to carders than the US or Europe.

a) Magnetic stripes​

• Although most bank cards in Russia support EMV chips, magnetic stripes are still used.
• This creates a vulnerability for card cloning.

b) Contactless payments​

• Contactless cards and technologies are being actively introduced in Russia (for example, Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay).
• However, attackers can exploit NFC skimming to intercept data.

2. Security level​

In Russia, the security level of bank cards and payment systems is average, which makes them vulnerable to attacks.

a) 3D Secure​

• Most Russian banks have implemented the 3D Secure protocol (for example, Mastercard SecureCode, Verified by Visa).
• However, scammers can bypass it if they gain access to the victim's phone through phishing or social engineering.

b) Weak protection for small businesses​

• Many small businesses and online stores do not comply with PCI DSS standards, making them vulnerable to attacks.

3. Laws and Law Enforcement​

Russia has strict laws against cybercrime, but the fight against carding faces a number of challenges.

a) Criminal liability​

• Carding is considered fraud (Article 159 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation).
• Penalties include fines and imprisonment for up to 10 years.

b) Complexity of investigations​

• Fraudsters often use anonymous services (eg Tor, VPN) and cryptocurrencies, which makes it difficult to track their actions.
• In addition, law enforcement agencies face a lack of resources and expertise.

c) Activity of hacker groups​

• There are numerous hacker groups operating in Russia that specialize in carding.
• Example: Groups such as Cobalt, Carbanak are known for their attacks on banks and POS systems.

4. Popular carding methods in Russia​

a) Phishing​

• Phishing remains one of the most common methods of stealing card data.
• Fraudsters create fake websites or send fake emails on behalf of banks, popular online stores (for example, Ozon, Wildberries).

b) Skimming​

• Hackers install skimmers on ATMs and POS terminals to intercept card data.
• In Russia, compact Bluetooth skimmers are especially common.

c) Data leaks​

• Hacking large companies and online stores remains the main source of data for carders.
• Example: Attacks on Russian online stores, food delivery and taxi services.

d) Darknet and cryptocurrencies​

• Stolen data is sold on darknet forums (e.g. Maza, Exploit).
• Cryptocurrencies (eg Bitcoin, Monero) are used for anonymous payments.

5. Features of the carding market in Russia​

a) Low cost of data​

• Russian cards are cheaper than European or American ones due to the larger volume of offers.
• For example:
  • Basic card data: $1–$5.
  • Full details (CVV, name, address): $10–$20.

b) Local forums​

• Local darknet forums such as Maza, Exploit, XSS are popular in Russia.
• These forums offer ready-made tools for carding (for example, checkers, CVV generators).

c) Targeted attacks​

• Fraudsters often attack popular Russian sites (for example, Ozon, Wildberries, Yandex.Market).
• They are also testing cards on subscriptions (such as streaming services).

6. How do Russians protect themselves from carding?​

a) User education​

• Banks are running awareness campaigns against carding and phishing.
• Example: Information on how to recognize suspicious websites or emails.

b) Technological solutions​

• Using tokenization to protect card data.
• Implementation of transaction monitoring systems to identify suspicious activity.

c) Quick blocking of cards​

• Russian banks offer quick ways to block cards through mobile apps or hotlines.

7. Examples of known cases of carding in Russia​

a) Attack on banks (Cobalt group, 2016–2018)​

• Hackers stole hundreds of millions of rubles by breaking into ATMs and POS terminals.
• The damage amounted to more than 1 billion rubles.

b) Ozon data leak (2021)​

• Fraudsters gained access to customer data of a popular Russian marketplace.
• The stolen data was sold on darknet forums.

c) Darknet forum​

• Forums such as Maza offer card databases and carding tools.

8. Tips to protect yourself from carding in Russia​

a) For users​

• Always check the URL before entering your card details.
• Use complex passwords and two-factor authentication.
• Check your account statements regularly for suspicious transactions.

b) For companies​

• Protect customer data with encryption and tokenization.
• Comply with PCI DSS standards.
• Train employees in the basics of cybersecurity.

9. Conclusion​

Carding in Russia remains a serious problem due to the growing popularity of cashless payments, mass data leaks and the activity of hacker groups. However, the development of technologies (for example, EMV, tokenization) and the efforts of law enforcement agencies help to reduce the level of fraud. To protect against carding, it is important to follow safety rules, monitor new threats and cooperate with banks and law enforcement.

If you have additional questions about carding in Russia, write!

 

[Cloned Boy]

Features of carding in Russia in 2025​

Carding is a type of fraud associated with the illegal use of bank card data to conduct financial transactions without the owner's knowledge. In Russia, as in other countries, carding remains one of the pressing problems in the field of cybersecurity.

Key aspects of carding in Russia​

1. Popularity and increase in crime:
   • In Russia, carding has become a particularly noticeable phenomenon in recent years. The carding market has grown significantly, for example, in 2020 it increased by 116% compared to the previous year. This is due to the development of technology and the increase in online shopping.
2. Carder operation schemes:
   • Carders use a variety of methods to obtain bank card data, including phishing, skimming, database hacking, and purchasing data on dark markets.
   • Once the card details are obtained, fraudsters can use them to make online purchases, cash out funds, or resell the information to other criminals.
3. Russia's role in international carding:
   • Russia is often mentioned in the context of international carding. For example, Russian hackers such as Dmitry Smilyanc and Vladimir Drinkman have been accused of major thefts of bank card data in the United States.
4. Protective and countermeasure measures:
   • Banks and payment systems in Russia are actively implementing technologies to protect clients, such as two-factor authentication, monitoring of suspicious transactions and the use of data tokenization.
   • Users are advised to be careful when making online purchases, avoid suspicious sites and check their bank accounts regularly.
5. "Black market" of carding:
   • In Russia, there is a well-developed infrastructure for exchanging information about carding, including forums, chats, and even courses that teach fraud methods.

How to protect yourself from carding?​

• Use virtual cards for online purchases.
• Enable transaction notifications.
• Do not enter card details on suspicious websites.
• Update your passwords regularly and use complex combinations.
• Make sure the site you are making a purchase from uses a secure connection (https).

Carding remains a serious threat, but awareness and use of modern security technologies can significantly reduce the risk of becoming a victim of fraud.