Story about a carder

[chushpan]

Chapter 1. The Beginning of the Journey​

In one big city, where people were used to paying for everything — from coffee to apartments — with plastic cards, there lived a young man named Alex. He was an ordinary guy: he worked in a small electronics store, paid rent for an apartment and dreamed of a better life. But his salary barely covered his expenses, and the desire to "get rich quick" was becoming stronger and stronger.

One day, while browsing forums on the Internet, Alex accidentally came across a topic called "How to make money on cards." At first, he thought it was a joke or another scam for beginners, but the more he read, the more he understood: people really do find ways to get money using other people's bank cards.

"Why not?" Alex thought. He decided to give it a try.

Chapter 2. First Steps​

Alex started small: he bought a skimmer on one of the underground forums. It was a device that could be attached to an ATM and intercept card data. He chose a small ATM in a quiet area of the city, where people rarely went. A week later, Alex returned for the device and found that he had collected data from several dozen cards.

The next step was to create clones of the cards using a magnetic recording device. Alex carefully followed the instructions from the forums, and soon he had a whole stack of fake cards. All that remained was to test them.

He found a site that did not require additional authentication (Cardable 2D), and made his first purchase - expensive headphones. When the order went through successfully, Alex felt like a winner. "It's so easy!" he thought.

Chapter 3. The Taste of the Forbidden Fruit​

The first successful purchase pushed Alex to new actions. He began to regularly use the stolen cards to buy goods: smartphones, clothes, even plane tickets. He sold all these things on the secondary market to get cash.

To avoid attracting attention, Alex used proxy servers, VPNs, and fake accounts. He tried to be careful, but a feeling of anxiety was growing inside him. Every time the phone rang or someone knocked on the door, he flinched, thinking it was the police.

His friends noticed a change in Alex's behavior. He became more withdrawn, stopped going to meetings, and often disappeared online. One day, his best friend Max asked:
- Alex, what's happening to you? It's like you're a different person.

Alex evaded the answer, but inside he knew that Max was right. He really had changed. The thirst for easy money overshadowed his moral principles.

Chapter 4. Error​

One day, Alex decided to make a major purchase - a laptop worth several thousand dollars. He was sure that the card he used was "live", but he was wrong. The card owner noticed a suspicious transaction and immediately reported it to the bank. The bank blocked the card and began an investigation.

A few days later, law enforcement officers came to Alex's home. They found a skimmer, cloned cards, and purchase records. Alex tried to justify himself, but there was too much evidence.

Chapter 5. Consequences​

At the trial, Alex pleaded guilty. He was charged with fraud, money laundering, and illegal use of card data. The judge took his remorse into account, but the sentence was harsh: two years in prison and a large fine.

In prison, Alex thought a lot about his choice. He realized that he had chased quick money without thinking about the consequences. His life had been destroyed by a few months of easy money.

When Alex got out of prison, he decided to start over. He got a job at a cybersecurity company and now helps people protect their data from people like him.

Moral of the story​

Easy money always has its price. What seems simple and harmless can lead to serious consequences. Instead of looking for a shortcut to wealth, it is better to work honestly and help others protect themselves from scammers.

If you want to hear another story or learn more about cybersecurity - ask!