How VCCs Work

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How VCCs (Virtual Credit Cards) Work​

VCCs (Virtual Credit Cards) are digital versions of credit or debit cards that are created for temporary use. They provide a unique set of data (card number, expiration date, CVV) that can be used for online payments without having to disclose the details of the actual physical card.

VCCs are actively used for both legal purposes (protection from fraudsters, secure payments) and illegal activities (e.g. carding). Below I will discuss in detail the principle of VCCs, their advantages, disadvantages and ways of application.

1. Basic characteristics of VCC​

a) Temporality​

  • Most VCCs are created for a limited period of time (ranging from a few minutes to a few months).
  • After expiration, the card becomes invalid.

b) Limit on the amount​

  • When creating a VCC, you can set a limit on the amount of funds that can be spent.
  • This helps control costs and minimize the risks of data leakage.

c) Disposable cards​

  • Some VCCs are created as single-use cards, meaning they are only valid for one transaction.
  • After use, such cards are automatically deactivated.

d) Lack of physical media​

  • VCCs exist only in digital form and do not come in plastic form.
  • They cannot be used for payment in offline stores (only for online payments).

2. How are VCCs created?​

a) Through banks​

  • Many banks offer their customers the opportunity to create VCCs through mobile apps or online banking.
  • Examples:
    • Tinkoff Bank: Provides the ability to issue virtual cards with limits.
    • Revolut, N26: Popular fintech companies offering VCC to secure payments.

b) Through specialized services​

  • There are platforms that release VCCs for different purposes:
    • Privacy.com: Creates one-time virtual cards for secure online payments.
    • Entropay (now closed): Issued VCCs for international payments.
    • Crypto-to-VCC services: Some crypto platforms allow you to convert cryptocurrency to VCC.

c) Through hacker forums​

  • On the darknet and hacker forums, you can find offers for the sale of VCCs created on the basis of stolen data.
  • Such cards are often used for illegal activities, but they are extremely unreliable and can be blocked at any time.

3. How are VCCs used?​

a) Legal methods​

  1. Real card data protection:
    • VCC allows you to make online payments without revealing your primary card details.
    • If the VCC data is compromised, attackers will not have access to real funds.
  2. Spending Limits:
    • For example, you can create a VCC with a $50 limit for a service subscription to avoid unexpected charges.
  3. International payments:
    • VCCs are often used for purchases at overseas stores where physical cards may not be accepted.
  4. Testing payment systems:
    • Developers and testers use VCC to test the functionality of payment gateways.

b) Illegal methods​

  1. Carding:
    • Attackers create or purchase VCCs based on stolen data to pay for goods or services.
    • Such cards are often blocked after the first transaction.
  2. Bypass restrictions:
    • VCCs can be used to bypass regional or KYC restrictions on platforms.
  3. Withdrawal of funds:
    • Some scammers use VCC to withdraw money from compromised accounts.

4. Advantages of VCC​

a) Security​

  • The real card data remains protected even if the VCC is compromised.

b) Cost control​

  • The ability to set a limit and card expiration date reduces the risk of overspending.

c) Flexibility​

  • VCCs can be created for specific purposes (such as a single subscription or purchase).

d) Protection from fraudsters​

  • If a company or platform turns out to be a scam, the attackers will only have access to your VCC data, not your real account.

5. Disadvantages of VCC​

a) Limited use​

  • VCC cannot be used for offline payments or where a physical card is required.

b) Blocks​

  • Banks and platforms may block suspicious VCCs, especially if they are created based on stolen data.

c) Commissions​

  • Some services charge a fee for issuing or using VCC.

d) Risks of illegal use​

  • Using VCC for illegal activities may result in criminal liability.

6. How to protect yourself from scammers using VCC?​

If you are a business owner or individual, it is important to know how to protect yourself from VCC scammers:

a) Verification of transactions​

  • Use monitoring systems to analyze suspicious transactions.
  • Pay attention to transactions with VCC, especially if they originate from different geolocations.

b) Identity verification​

  • Require additional verification (e.g. photo ID) for large transactions.

c) Blocking suspicious cards​

  • If you notice multiple transactions with VCC, consider blocking them.

7. Conclusion​

VCCs are a convenient tool for secure online payments, but they should be used with caution. For legitimate purposes, they provide a high level of security and control over spending. However, when used illegally, VCCs can cause serious problems, including criminal liability.

If you would like to learn more about VCCs or discuss their use in specific situations, feel free to ask!
 
VCC (Virtual Credit Cards) are virtual cards linked to a real bank account or issuer, but without a physical medium. They are used for online payments and may have limits on the amount, expiration date, or stores.

How do VCCs work?​

  1. Release
    • Banks (Revolut, Wise) and fintech services (Payoneer, Privacy.com) issue VCCs.
    • Some VCCs are created on a one-time basis (for example, to sign up for a trial period).
  2. Linking to an account
    • VCC can be:
      • Refillable (like a regular card).
      • One-time (expires after the first payment).
      • Limited (for example, only for paying for Netflix).
  3. Usage
    • They are entered like regular cards in online stores.
    • They may be blocked after the first write-off (if one-time).
  4. Safety
    • There is no risk of losing a physical card.
    • You can set limits or disable after use.

Where can I get VCC?​

  • Banks
  • Services:
    • Privacy.com (USA) – for creating limited cards.
    • Revolut – multi-currency VCC.
    • Wise – cards for international payments.

What is VCC used for?​

✅ Subscription payments (Netflix, Spotify).
✅ Trial periods without the risk of auto-renewal.
✅ Anonymous payments (if the service does not require verification).
❌ Fraud - most VCCs are linked to a KYC account, so transactions are tracked.

If you need complete anonymity, some crypto projects (for example, Bybit Card) allow you to create VCCs through cryptocurrencies, but there are limits there too.

Do you need specific examples or ways to bypass blocking?
 

What are Virtual Credit Cards (VCC)?​

Virtual credit cards (VCCs) are digital versions of traditional credit cards that provide users with a unique card number for online payments. These cards do not have a physical medium and exist only in digital format, making them convenient and safe to use online.

How do virtual credit cards work?​

  1. Card Number Generation: When a virtual card is created, the user is given a unique number that is different from their physical card number. This allows the virtual card to be used for purchases without revealing their actual credit card details.
  2. Security: Using virtual cards adds an extra layer of security to online transactions. Since the virtual card number is not the same as the physical card number, it reduces the risk of fraud and data leakage if the merchant's website is hacked.
  3. Expense Management: Virtual cards can be set up with specific spending limits, allowing users to control their finances and avoid overspending. This is especially useful for businesses, where cards can be created with limits for different employees or projects.
  4. Ease of use: Virtual cards work just like regular credit cards and can be used for online shopping, subscriptions to services, and other online transactions. They can be added to digital wallets on smartphones, making them available at any time.
  5. Temporary cards: Some virtual cards may be temporary, meaning they can only be used for one transaction or for a limited time. This further increases the level of security, as the card number becomes invalid once used.

Benefits of Virtual Credit Cards​

  • Privacy Protection: Users can make purchases without revealing their real information.
  • Spending Control: Setting limits on virtual cards helps avoid overspending.
  • Convenience: Easy access and use in digital wallets.

Virtual credit cards are becoming increasingly popular due to their security and convenience, making them a great choice for online payments.
 
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