Rituals of Passage: How a Newbie Became a Carder in Closed Communities

[Professor]

Idea: An anthropological perspective on initiation rites: receiving an invite, solving the first tasks, the first successful "hit" under the supervision of a mentor – the formation of a group identity.

Introduction: The Digital Tribe and its Laws​

Every society has its own rituals through which a person ceases to be an outsider and becomes one of the group. In some cultures, this is the initiation into warriorhood, in others, a graduation exam, in still others, a wedding ceremony. Closed carding communities, existing at the intersection of digital anonymity and criminal risk, were no exception. These were digital tribes with their own strict laws, hierarchies, and sacred knowledge. The path from curious "newbie" to recognized participant was more than just self-education. It was a complex, multi-stage rite of passage, full of trials, patronage from elders, and identity transformation. Looking at this process through the lens of anthropology reveals a fascinating picture: how, in conditions of total mistrust, mechanisms of selection, training, and cohesion were born that mirrored the processes in any professional workshop or scientific community.

Part 1: Outsider Status – On the Threshold of the Digital Sanctuary​

It all began with the realization of a closed world. Public, easily searchable forums were merely a façade, a "front yard." Real knowledge and connections were stored in invite-only communities: closed sections, private chats, and encrypted platforms.

• Finding a Guide: A newcomer (often referred to as a "lamer" or "noob") couldn't simply register. They needed to find a guide — an already established member of the community who could provide them with an invite. This created a system of personal responsibility and guaranty. The guide vouched for the newcomer with their reputation.
• The first test was to prove your seriousness: To receive an invite, you had to prove you weren't a "curious schoolboy" or a "cop." This required either demonstrating basic technical skills (for example, conducting a simple vulnerability analysis), demonstrating a deep understanding of the topic in public discussions, or — as was often the case — making a small but significant monetary contribution to the general fund or to a guide. This was a sacrificial rite, confirming your seriousness and filtering out random people.

Anthropological parallel: Bringing gifts to elders or the tribal chief to obtain permission to enter the territory.

Part 2: Neophyte Status – A Period of Trials and Apprenticeship​

After receiving an invite, a newcomer entered a space of liminality — a liminal state where they were no longer strangers, but not yet truly part of the community. Their username was marked with a special tag, "Newbie" or "Newbie." Their rights were limited: they could read, but not write everywhere; they could ask questions, but only in a designated section.

• Mentor (Patron): Often, the guide or an experienced participant assigned to them became a mentor. The mentor served as a teacher, advisor, and protector. They explained unwritten rules and basic concepts, and suggested which mistakes to avoid pointing out publicly to avoid ridicule.
• Solving "quests" (problems):In special sections "for beginners," training tasks were posted. These could be:
  • Logical encryption puzzles.
  • Tasks for analyzing a phishing email and finding errors.
  • Reconstructing the chain of events from the provided logs.
    Solving such problems and publishing a detailed report (write-up) was a key test of ingenuity and perseverance. This proved that the novice was capable not only of consuming but also of analyzing and thinking.
• Learning the "folklore" and language: The neophyte had to learn the community slang ("drop," "zip," "bity," "garant"), understand inside jokes and references, and become familiar with local "legends" — stories of famous hacks or failures. This immersion in the cultural code was essential for a sense of belonging.

An anthropological parallel: A young man is initiated into an apprenticeship with a craftsman. He carries out the master's orders, learning the tools and traditions of the guild.

Part 3: The Key Ritual: "The First Hit" Under Supervision​

The most important, culminating stage of initiation was the first real, but controlled “hit” (using card data for payment).

• Preparation: The mentor helped the newcomer with minimal investment: finding an inexpensive but proven "low-balance card," selecting a secure product to purchase (often digital: a game key, a subscription), and explaining every step: how to use a VPN, how to fill out fields correctly, how to choose a delivery method.
• Performing the action: The neophyte, under the "supervision" of the mentor (via screenshots or remote access), performed the operation. It was a moment of extreme tension and adrenaline — the transition from theory to practice, from observation to action.
• Debriefing: After success (or failure), the mentor would review each step with the newcomer in detail: what was done correctly, where the risks were, and how it could have been done better. In the event of success, a portion of the modest profit was often given to the mentor as a token of gratitude — a symbolic exchange of value that strengthened the bond.

This ritual served several functions:

1. Practical test: Proved that the neophyte is capable of acting calmly and according to instructions.
2. Creating a shared secret and trust: Now the neophyte and mentor had a shared criminal history, which created a strong bond.
3. Overcoming the psychological barrier: From this point on, theoretical knowledge turned into personal experience. The neophyte internally crossed the line.

An anthropological parallel: A young man's first hunt under the guidance of an experienced warrior. A blacksmith's apprentice's first independently forged horseshoe. A ritual of first success.

Part 4: Insider Status – Acceptance into the Circle and New Responsibilities​

After successfully completing the tests, a status change occurred. Moderators removed the "Newbie" label. The newcomer gained access to new, more private sections of the forum, including chats where truly valuable things were discussed.

• New identity: He was no longer "nobody." He was now a member, the bearer of a unique nickname with which his reputation was beginning to be associated. He could begin to build his digital persona.
• Responsibilities to the community: By accepting the gift of knowledge, a new member pledged to share their experience in the future. They were expected to help subsequent newcomers, write their own short guides based on their experiences, and participate in discussions. The principle of reciprocity was incorporated.
• Adoption of group ethics: He had to strictly adhere to internal rules: no cheating, respect the hierarchy, use encryption, and avoid unnecessary bragging. Violating these rules led to dire punishment — public banning and ostracism, which in this environment was tantamount to digital death.

Anthropological parallel: Obtaining the status of a full member of a tribe, warrior, or guild. The right to vote at meetings, the right to wear certain insignia.

Conclusion: Eternal Archetypes in Digital Caves​

Rituals of passage in carding communities demonstrate that even in the most marginal and seemingly antisocial digital underground, human nature prevails. The desire for structure, for the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation, for a clear distinction between "us" and "them," and for a meaningful path to professional growth (even a criminal one) proves universal.

These rites were not whimsical, but a pragmatic social survival mechanism. They filtered out the unreliable, trained the capable, created networks of trust in an environment where trust was the most scarce resource, and formed a strong group identity that was based not only on money but also on a shared experience of initiation.

This knowledge forces a new perspective on the phenomenon of such communities. They were not simply a gathering of criminals, but complex social organisms with their own culture, traditions, and system of talent reproduction. And understanding this anthropology helps us develop more effective countermeasures today — not only technical but also social, aimed at identifying and disrupting these very binding rituals and loyalty-building mechanisms. After all, to defeat a tribe, we must understand not only its weapons but also its rituals.

 

[John Cortez]

im new to this society and took alot of losses and got information from ppl that ended up totally wrong.
if possible can you be my mentor or point me in the right direction of a person who can teach me to be successful

 

[joset34433]

Idea: An anthropological perspective on initiation rites: receiving an invite, solving the first tasks, the first successful "hit" under the supervision of a mentor – the formation of a group identity.

Introduction: The Digital Tribe and its Laws​

Every society has its own rituals through which a person ceases to be an outsider and becomes one of the group. In some cultures, this is the initiation into warriorhood, in others, a graduation exam, in still others, a wedding ceremony. Closed carding communities, existing at the intersection of digital anonymity and criminal risk, were no exception. These were digital tribes with their own strict laws, hierarchies, and sacred knowledge. The path from curious "newbie" to recognized participant was more than just self-education. It was a complex, multi-stage rite of passage, full of trials, patronage from elders, and identity transformation. Looking at this process through the lens of anthropology reveals a fascinating picture: how, in conditions of total mistrust, mechanisms of selection, training, and cohesion were born that mirrored the processes in any professional workshop or scientific community.

Part 1: Outsider Status – On the Threshold of the Digital Sanctuary​

It all began with the realization of a closed world. Public, easily searchable forums were merely a façade, a "front yard." Real knowledge and connections were stored in invite-only communities: closed sections, private chats, and encrypted platforms.

• Finding a Guide: A newcomer (often referred to as a "lamer" or "noob") couldn't simply register. They needed to find a guide — an already established member of the community who could provide them with an invite. This created a system of personal responsibility and guaranty. The guide vouched for the newcomer with their reputation.
• The first test was to prove your seriousness: To receive an invite, you had to prove you weren't a "curious schoolboy" or a "cop." This required either demonstrating basic technical skills (for example, conducting a simple vulnerability analysis), demonstrating a deep understanding of the topic in public discussions, or — as was often the case — making a small but significant monetary contribution to the general fund or to a guide. This was a sacrificial rite, confirming your seriousness and filtering out random people.

Anthropological parallel: Bringing gifts to elders or the tribal chief to obtain permission to enter the territory.

Part 2: Neophyte Status – A Period of Trials and Apprenticeship​

After receiving an invite, a newcomer entered a space of liminality — a liminal state where they were no longer strangers, but not yet truly part of the community. Their username was marked with a special tag, "Newbie" or "Newbie." Their rights were limited: they could read, but not write everywhere; they could ask questions, but only in a designated section.

• Mentor (Patron): Often, the guide or an experienced participant assigned to them became a mentor. The mentor served as a teacher, advisor, and protector. They explained unwritten rules and basic concepts, and suggested which mistakes to avoid pointing out publicly to avoid ridicule.
• Solving "quests" (problems):In special sections "for beginners," training tasks were posted. These could be:
  • Logical encryption puzzles.
  • Tasks for analyzing a phishing email and finding errors.
  • Reconstructing the chain of events from the provided logs.
    Solving such problems and publishing a detailed report (write-up) was a key test of ingenuity and perseverance. This proved that the novice was capable not only of consuming but also of analyzing and thinking.
• Learning the "folklore" and language: The neophyte had to learn the community slang ("drop," "zip," "bity," "garant"), understand inside jokes and references, and become familiar with local "legends" — stories of famous hacks or failures. This immersion in the cultural code was essential for a sense of belonging.

An anthropological parallel: A young man is initiated into an apprenticeship with a craftsman. He carries out the master's orders, learning the tools and traditions of the guild.

Part 3: The Key Ritual: "The First Hit" Under Supervision​

The most important, culminating stage of initiation was the first real, but controlled “hit” (using card data for payment).

• Preparation: The mentor helped the newcomer with minimal investment: finding an inexpensive but proven "low-balance card," selecting a secure product to purchase (often digital: a game key, a subscription), and explaining every step: how to use a VPN, how to fill out fields correctly, how to choose a delivery method.
• Performing the action: The neophyte, under the "supervision" of the mentor (via screenshots or remote access), performed the operation. It was a moment of extreme tension and adrenaline — the transition from theory to practice, from observation to action.
• Debriefing: After success (or failure), the mentor would review each step with the newcomer in detail: what was done correctly, where the risks were, and how it could have been done better. In the event of success, a portion of the modest profit was often given to the mentor as a token of gratitude — a symbolic exchange of value that strengthened the bond.

This ritual served several functions:

1. Practical test: Proved that the neophyte is capable of acting calmly and according to instructions.
2. Creating a shared secret and trust: Now the neophyte and mentor had a shared criminal history, which created a strong bond.
3. Overcoming the psychological barrier: From this point on, theoretical knowledge turned into personal experience. The neophyte internally crossed the line.

An anthropological parallel: A young man's first hunt under the guidance of an experienced warrior. A blacksmith's apprentice's first independently forged horseshoe. A ritual of first success.

Part 4: Insider Status – Acceptance into the Circle and New Responsibilities​

After successfully completing the tests, a status change occurred. Moderators removed the "Newbie" label. The newcomer gained access to new, more private sections of the forum, including chats where truly valuable things were discussed.

• New identity: He was no longer "nobody." He was now a member, the bearer of a unique nickname with which his reputation was beginning to be associated. He could begin to build his digital persona.
• Responsibilities to the community: By accepting the gift of knowledge, a new member pledged to share their experience in the future. They were expected to help subsequent newcomers, write their own short guides based on their experiences, and participate in discussions. The principle of reciprocity was incorporated.
• Adoption of group ethics: He had to strictly adhere to internal rules: no cheating, respect the hierarchy, use encryption, and avoid unnecessary bragging. Violating these rules led to dire punishment — public banning and ostracism, which in this environment was tantamount to digital death.

Anthropological parallel: Obtaining the status of a full member of a tribe, warrior, or guild. The right to vote at meetings, the right to wear certain insignia.

Conclusion: Eternal Archetypes in Digital Caves​

Rituals of passage in carding communities demonstrate that even in the most marginal and seemingly antisocial digital underground, human nature prevails. The desire for structure, for the transmission of knowledge from generation to generation, for a clear distinction between "us" and "them," and for a meaningful path to professional growth (even a criminal one) proves universal.

These rites were not whimsical, but a pragmatic social survival mechanism. They filtered out the unreliable, trained the capable, created networks of trust in an environment where trust was the most scarce resource, and formed a strong group identity that was based not only on money but also on a shared experience of initiation.

This knowledge forces a new perspective on the phenomenon of such communities. They were not simply a gathering of criminals, but complex social organisms with their own culture, traditions, and system of talent reproduction. And understanding this anthropology helps us develop more effective countermeasures today — not only technical but also social, aimed at identifying and disrupting these very binding rituals and loyalty-building mechanisms. After all, to defeat a tribe, we must understand not only its weapons but also its rituals.

This is exactly what I'm looking for. A mentor who I can look up to and work with. Learn from him as an apprenticeship and build his own world with him. I'm ready to prove my loyalty to become a member