Need some guidance/tips

[sunnywindow]

Hello all,
I am new on the forum, actually new here altogether.
Basically I want to know if it is even possible to card in EU, since most of the cards are from the US.
But okay, lets say I get a good card from EU, which also can be found. Does it have to be my country exactly or just EU?
Lets say I get it, what is the best way to use it as fast as possible? Can I even use it with all 2-factor auth.? I was looking at the options, but most "carding" sites are US.
As for the method, from my beginner point of view, the fastest would be to spend it on crypto, but of course, do tell what my options actually are or what exactly I need to do, to be successful.

Yeah, I am in a need of money of course, bit of a rough past few months, maybe a year so I came here to see what my options are and just want to check if carding is possible.
Any other advices on making money here are of course much appreciated.

Thanks to all who took their time to read and even more to those who will try to help anyhow.

Regards!

 

[Mutt]

Hello.

What Is Carding? A Cybersecurity Perspective.​

Carding is a form of cybercrime where attackers use stolen credit or debit card information to make unauthorized purchases, transfer funds, or launder money. It typically involves obtaining card details (e.g., card number, expiration date, CVV, and sometimes cardholder details) through methods like phishing, data breaches, skimming, or dark web purchases, then using those details for fraudulent transactions.

From a cybersecurity standpoint, carding exploits vulnerabilities in payment systems, user behavior, and authentication processes. It’s a cat-and-mouse game between cybercriminals and the security measures implemented by banks, merchants, and payment processors. In the EU, robust regulations and advanced technologies make carding particularly challenging, as I’ll explain below.

Addressing Your Questions in a Cybersecurity Context​

1. Is Carding Possible in the EU, Especially with US Cards?​

Technical Feasibility:

• EU Payment Infrastructure: The EU’s payment ecosystem is governed by the Payment Services Directive 2 (PSD2), implemented in 2019 and fully enforced by 2021. PSD2 mandates Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) for online transactions, requiring at least two of three authentication factors:
  • Knowledge: Something the user knows (e.g., PIN, password).
  • Possession: Something the user has (e.g., a card, smartphone, or token).
  • Inherence: Something the user is (e.g., biometric data like fingerprint or facial recognition). SCA is enforced via protocols like 3D Secure 2.0 (used by Visa, Mastercard, and others), which dynamically authenticates transactions based on risk. For example, a high-risk transaction (e.g., high-value purchase or unusual location) triggers additional verification, such as a one-time password (OTP) sent to the cardholder’s registered phone or email.
• US Cards in the EU: US-issued cards often face compatibility issues in the EU due to differences in payment standards:
  • Many US cards rely on magnetic stripe technology or chip-and-signature, while EU merchants predominantly use chip-and-PIN cards compliant with the EMV (Europay, Mastercard, Visa) standard. Online, US cards may not support 3D Secure, leading to transaction rejections by EU merchants.
  • BIN Lookup and Geolocation: Banks use Bank Identification Number (BIN) lookups to verify a card’s issuing bank and country. Transactions from a US card in the EU, especially without a travel history, trigger fraud detection algorithms that analyze IP addresses, device fingerprints, and behavioral patterns (e.g., spending habits). These systems often block or flag suspicious transactions instantly.
  • Cross-Border Monitoring: US issuers like Chase or Citibank employ real-time fraud detection, leveraging machine learning to identify anomalies (e.g., a card used in California yesterday and Berlin today). This makes cross-border carding with US cards highly risky and prone to failure.

Cybersecurity Countermeasures:

• Fraud Detection Systems: Banks and payment processors use AI-driven tools like FICO Falcon or Visa Advanced Authorization to score transactions for fraud risk. These systems analyze hundreds of data points (e.g., transaction amount, merchant type, geolocation, device ID) in milliseconds.
• Tokenization: Many EU payment systems use tokenization (e.g., Apple Pay, Google Pay), replacing card numbers with unique tokens that are useless if intercepted.
• Dark Pool Monitoring: Law enforcement agencies, including Europol, monitor dark web marketplaces where card details are sold, often infiltrating forums to track carding activities.

Conclusion: Carding in the EU with US cards is technically possible but extremely difficult due to SCA, EMV compliance, and advanced fraud detection. Success rates are low, and attempts often result in immediate transaction blocks or law enforcement scrutiny.

2. Does the Card Have to Be from Your Country or Just the EU?​

Technical Considerations:

• EU-Wide Payment Systems: The EU’s Single Euro Payments Area (SEPA)standardizes payments across the EEA (27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland). This means a card issued in any EEA country can theoretically be used for transactions throughout the region without currency conversion or additional fees. However, this doesn’t make carding easier:
  • SCA Enforcement: Regardless of the card’s country of origin, SCA applies to all online transactions in the EEA. This requires access to the cardholder’s authentication methods (e.g., OTP sent to their phone), which carders typically lack.
  • Issuer-Specific Checks: Banks perform issuer-specific fraud checks. For example, a German-issued card used in France for an unusual transaction (e.g., high-value crypto purchase) may trigger additional verification if it deviates from the cardholder’s profile.
  • Address Verification Systems (AVS): Many EU merchants use AVS to match the billing address with the cardholder’s registered address. Mismatched addresses (common in carding) lead to transaction declines.

Cybersecurity Implications:

• Geo-Fencing and Behavioral Analysis: Banks use geolocation data and behavioral biometrics (e.g., typing patterns, mouse movements) to detect anomalies. A card from one EU country used in another with a different IP address or device signature raises red flags.
• Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud: Carding often involves CNP transactions (e.g., online purchases). PSD2’s SCA requirements have significantly reduced CNP fraud in the EU, with a 2023 report from the European Central Bank noting a 30% drop in fraud rates since 2019 due to 3D Secure adoption.

Conclusion: The card’s country of origin (within the EU or not) is less relevant than the authentication barriers. SCA and fraud detection systems make carding difficult regardless of whether the card is from your country or another EU nation.

3. What Is the Best Way to Use a Stolen Card as Fast as Possible? Can It Be Used with 2FA?​

Technical Challenges with Speed and 2FA:

• Speed in Carding: Cybercriminals aim to use stolen cards quickly before they’re reported or flagged. Common methods include:
  • Online Purchases: Buying high-value, easily resold items (e.g., electronics) from e-commerce sites.
  • Crypto Purchases: Converting card funds to cryptocurrency via exchanges or peer-to-peer platforms.
  • Gift Cards: Purchasing gift cards, which are harder to trace and can be resold. However, speed is hindered by:
  • SCA and 2FA: As noted, PSD2 mandates 2FA for most EU online transactions. Without access to the cardholder’s phone, email, or biometric data, completing a transaction is nearly impossible. For example, an OTP sent via SMS or a banking app’s push notification requires real-time access to the cardholder’s device.
  • Real-Time Fraud Detection: Banks monitor transactions in real time. A 2024 study by LexisNexis Risk Solutions found that 95% of EU banks use AI-based systems to detect fraud within seconds, often freezing cards before a transaction is completed.
  • Merchant Scrutiny: E-commerce platforms like Amazon or crypto exchanges like Binance use their own fraud detection, cross-referencing card details with user accounts, IP addresses, and KYC data.

Crypto-Specific Challenges:

• KYC/AML Compliance: EU crypto exchanges must comply with the Markets in Crypto-Assets (MiCA) regulation (effective 2024), requiring KYC verification (e.g., ID documents, proof of address). Attempting to use a stolen card on a MiCA-compliant platform triggers immediate flags, as the cardholder’s identity won’t match the account holder’s.
• Blockchain Tracing: While cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin are pseudonymous, transactions are recorded on public blockchains. Law enforcement uses tools like Chainalysis or Elliptic to trace illicit crypto flows, linking them to exchanges or wallets. In 2023, Europol reported recovering €50 million in crypto linked to fraud.
• Chargebacks: If a stolen card is used to buy crypto, the cardholder can dispute the transaction, leading to a chargeback. This reverses the payment, leaving the carder without funds and potentially exposing their identity if they used a traceable wallet or exchange.

Cybersecurity Countermeasures:

• Rate Limiting: Payment processors limit the number of transactions a card can make in a short period, reducing the window for rapid carding.
• Device Fingerprinting: Merchants and banks track device IDs, browser configurations, and IP addresses to detect repeated attempts from the same source.
• Dark Web Sting Operations: Many “carding” sites on the dark web are monitored or operated by law enforcement to catch buyers of stolen data.

Conclusion: Using a stolen card quickly is nearly impossible in the EU due to 2FA requirements and real-time fraud detection. Crypto purchases are particularly risky due to KYC/AML checks and blockchain traceability. Even if successful, chargebacks and law enforcement tracing make it unsustainable.

4. What Are the Options for Carding Success?​

Carding Methods (for Educational Understanding): Cybercriminals use various techniques to attempt carding, but each faces significant hurdles in the EU:

• Phishing: Stealing card details via fake websites or emails. Countermeasure: EU users are increasingly educated about phishing, and banks use email filters and user alerts.
• Skimming: Installing devices on ATMs or POS terminals to capture card data. Countermeasure: EMV chips and tamper-proof terminals have reduced skimming by 80% in the EU since 2015 (European Banking Authority data).
• Data Breaches: Buying card details from hacked databases. Countermeasure: GDPR mandates strict data protection, and breached cards are quickly flagged.
• Social Engineering: Tricking cardholders into revealing details. Countermeasure: SCA requires device-based verification, rendering stolen details useless without 2FA access.
• Carding Forums: Purchasing card details on the dark web. Countermeasure: Prices for valid EU cards (e.g., $20–$100 per card in 2024) are high, and many are already flagged or fake, per a 2023 Chainalysis report.

Success Barriers:

• Low Success Rate: A 2024 report by Merchant Fraud Journal estimated that only 10–15% of stolen EU cards result in successful transactions due to SCA and fraud detection.
• High Risk: Attempting carding exposes users to scams (fake carding sites), malware (from dark web downloads), and law enforcement stings.
• Legal Consequences: Under EU laws (e.g., Directive 2013/40/EU on cybercrime), carding can lead to 3–7 years in prison, fines, and asset seizure. Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre (EC3) actively targets carding networks.

Conclusion: Carding success in the EU is minimal due to layered security measures, and the risks far outweigh any potential gains. Cybersecurity professionals focus on understanding these methods to develop better defenses, not to exploit them.

Technical Insights into EU Payment Security​

To deepen your understanding of cybersecurity in the context of carding prevention, here’s a breakdown of key technologies and protocols:

• EMV and Chip Technology:
  • EMV chips generate unique transaction codes, making cloned cards useless. EU adoption is near 100%, per a 2023 ECB report.
  • Countermeasure to Skimming: Tamper-proof chip readers and encrypted communication between card and terminal.
• 3D Secure 2.0:
  • Uses Risk-Based Authentication (RBA) to assess transaction risk based on 100+ data points (e.g., device type, transaction history).
  • Low-risk transactions may skip 2FA; high-risk ones (e.g., carding attempts) trigger OTPs or biometrics.
• Tokenization:
  • Replaces card numbers with single-use tokens (e.g., in Apple Pay). Even if intercepted, tokens are useless outside the specific transaction.
• AI and Machine Learning:
  • Banks use ML models to detect anomalies in real time. For example, a card used for a €1,000 crypto purchase in a new country may score 90/100 on a fraud scale, triggering a block.
  • Tools like SAS Fraud Management analyze historical and real-time data to predict carding attempts.
• Blockchain Analysis:
  • Tools like Chainalysis Reactor trace crypto transactions to identify carding-related wallets, linking them to exchanges or individuals.

 

[Professor]

Let's Address Your Questions Honestly:​

1. Is carding possible in the EU?​

Technically, yes, but it's extremely risky. EU countries have strong cybersecurity laws and cooperate with international agencies like Europol, Interpol, and national police forces. Law enforcement is increasingly effective at tracking and prosecuting cybercrime, especially carding and fraud.

2. Do the stolen cards have to be from your country or just EU?​

Stolen cards from any region can be used, but success depends on:

• The card's issuing country and the merchant's location.
• Whether the card has 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication) enabled.
• Whether the card is monitored or flagged.
• Whether the merchant uses strong fraud detection systems (like 3D Secure, CVV checks, etc.).

Using a card not issued in your region increases suspicion, especially if the billing address or IP address doesn't match.

3. Best way to use a card quickly?​

If you're thinking of converting stolen funds into crypto or gift cards — yes, that’s a common method in the underground, but again, very risky. Platforms like Binance, Coinbase, and others are increasingly regulated and may freeze accounts or report suspicious activity. Also, many now require KYC (Know Your Customer) verification.

4. Can you bypass 2FA?​

2FA is designed to prevent unauthorized access. Bypassing it often requires advanced technical knowledge and tools — and again, doing so is illegal. Most platforms use SMS, email, or authenticator-based 2FA, and attempts to bypass these can trigger alerts.

 

[Cloned Boy]

Below is an educational breakdown of the concepts you mentioned, focusing on how fraudsters operate and how systems defend against such threats.

1. Geographic Limitations in Carding (EU vs. US)​

• BIN (Bank Identification Number) & Issuer Location:
  • Credit/debit cards have BINs that indicate the issuing bank and country.
  • Fraud detection systems (like 3D Secure, Riskified, Sift) flag transactions where the card’s origin doesn’t match the user’s IP/VPN location.
  • EU cards often have stricter fraud checks (PSD2 regulation) than US cards, making them harder to exploit.
• Does the Card Need to Be from Your Country?
  • Fraudsters often prefer local cards (same country as the victim) to bypass geolocation checks.
  • However, cross-border EU transactions are possible due to SEPA (Single Euro Payments Area), but they trigger extra scrutiny (e.g., 3D Secure).

2. Bypassing 2FA (Two-Factor Authentication)​

• Common 2FA Methods & Weaknesses:
  • SMS-based 2FA: Vulnerable to SIM swapping.
  • Email-based 2FA: Can be bypassed if the attacker has phishing access.
  • App-based (Google Authenticator, Authy): Harder to crack, but malware (e.g., Raccoon Stealer) can steal session tokens.
  • Biometric/FIDO2: Most secure; rarely bypassed.
• How Fraudsters Attempt to Evade 2FA:
  • Phishing: Fake login pages capturing OTPs.
  • Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) Attacks: Intercepting codes in real-time.
  • Session Hijacking: Using stolen cookies to bypass login checks.

3. Monetization Methods (From a Fraud Analyst Perspective)​

• Cryptocurrency Purchases:
  • Some exchanges have weak KYC, allowing quick BTC/ETH purchases.
  • However, regulated exchanges (Coinbase, Binance) freeze suspicious transactions.
• Alternative Cashout Methods:
  • Digital Gift Cards (Amazon, iTunes): Easier to resell but traceable.
  • High-Value Electronics (iPhones, GPUs): Resold via marketplaces.
  • Prepaid Cards (Paysafecard, Revolut): Sometimes less monitored.

4. How Financial Institutions Detect & Prevent Carding​

• Behavioral Analysis:
  • Unusual spending patterns (e.g., multiple high-value transactions in minutes).
  • Mismatched billing/shipping addresses.
• Velocity Checks:
  • Too many transactions in a short time.
• Device Fingerprinting:
  • Detecting VPNs, emulators, or spoofed user agents.
• Machine Learning Fraud Scores:
  • Systems like Feedzai, Kount assign risk scores to transactions.