The Age of Carders

[chushpan]

The Carder Era is a period in the history of cybercrime associated with the mass distribution and development of methods for the illegal use of bank card data. It covers the time when carding became one of the most dangerous and large-scale forms of fraud, affecting both individuals and large companies, banks and states. This phenomenon is closely related to the development of technology, the Internet, e-commerce and digital payments.

1. What is carding?​

Carding is a type of cybercriminal activity aimed at:

• Stealing bank card data.
• Using stolen data for purchases, transfers or creating fake cards.
• Selling data on the black market (including the darknet).

This activity has become possible due to the growing popularity of credit and debit cards, as well as the development of online payments.

2. History of the Carder Era​

The era of carders began in the late 20th century and peaked in the 2000s and 2010s. Here are the main stages:

a) Early years (1990s)​

• The advent of the first credit cards and magnetic stripes made mechanical data reading possible.
• The first cases of carding involved the use of primitive methods such as:
  • Skimming: Installing devices on ATMs to steal magnetic stripe data.
  • Phishing: Creating fake websites or emails to obtain card details.

b) Development of the Internet (2000s)​

• The spread of the internet and e-commerce has opened up new opportunities for carders.
• The first online forums and markets for selling stolen data appeared.
• Increase in the number of attacks using malware (e.g. Trojans, keyloggers).
• Massive leaks of company data have become an important source of information for carders.

c) Modern era (2010s – present)​

• Carding has become a highly organized criminal business.
• Complex techniques are used, such as:
  • Social engineering.
  • Exploitation of vulnerabilities in POS (Point of Sale) systems.
  • Attacks on mobile applications and IoT devices.
• The emergence of the darknet and cryptocurrencies has made anonymous transactions between carding participants much easier.
• Development of artificial intelligence and automated tools for testing stolen data.

3. Carders: who are they?​

Carders are specialized cybercriminals who:

• They collect bank card data through hacking, skimming or phishing.
• They check the stolen data using checkers.
• They use the data for purchases, withdrawals or resale.
• They often operate in groups or through online communities.

Carders can be divided into several categories:

• Beginners: Those who are just starting to master carding methods.
• Professionals: Experienced hackers who create tools and organize attacks.
• Middlemen: Sell stolen data or provide services to other scammers.
• Leaders: Coordinate the group's actions and control the distribution of income.

4. How did carders work?​

Here are the main stages of carders' work:

a) Data collection​

• Skimming: Installing devices on ATMs or terminals to read data from the magnetic stripe of cards.
• Phishing: Creating fake websites or emails to obtain card details from victims.
• Mass data leaks: Hacks into company databases that store customer data (e.g. retailers, banks).
• Malware: Trojans and keyloggers that are installed on victims' devices to intercept data.

b) Data verification​

• After stealing the data, carders check it for "validity" using special tools such as checkers .
• These programs automatically test stolen data on test purchases or balance requests.

c) Use of data​

• Card data is used for:
  • Online shopping (especially items that can be easily resold, such as electronics).
  • Transfers of funds to other accounts.
  • Cloning cards for real world use.

d) Sale of data​

• There are specialized markets on the darknet where carders sell stolen data.
• Prices depend on the quality of the data:
  • Basic data (card number, expiration date): $5–$10.
  • Full details (CVV, owner name, address): $20–$50.
  • Premium cards: up to $100+

5. Carding forums and communities​

Carders often formed online communities to share knowledge, tools, and data. These forums could be:

• Open: Available via the regular Internet.
• Closed: Located on the darknet and require an invitation or registration.

On such forums carders:

• We discussed new methods and tools.
• Sold and bought stolen data.
• We exchanged experiences in hacking systems.

Examples of well-known carding forums:

• Darkode (closed in 2015).
• Rescator (specialized in selling these cards).
• Joker's Stash (closed 2021).

6. Examples of major carder attacks​

Here are some famous cases of carding that show the scale of the problem:

a) Target attack (2013)​

• Hackers gained access to the POS systems of the Target store chain.
• Data from over 40 million cards stolen.
• The damage amounted to hundreds of millions of dollars.

b) Home Depot attack (2014)​

• The criminals introduced malware into the company's POS systems.
• Data from 56 million cards stolen.

c) Joker’s Stash​

• One of the largest platforms for selling stolen card data.
• Closed in 2021 after a lengthy investigation by international law enforcement agencies.

d) Russian carders​

• Russia has long been a center for carding, thanks to its high concentration of tech-savvy hackers and relatively lax regulation.
• Example: the arrested hacker group known as Lurk , which stole billions of rubles through bank hacks.

7. Why do carders remain dangerous?​

Despite the efforts of law enforcement and data protection companies, carders continue to thrive. Reasons:

• Anonymity: The use of the darknet and cryptocurrencies makes it difficult to track participants.
• Globalization: Criminals can be based in one country and attack another.
• Technological development: Carders quickly adapt to new technologies and vulnerabilities.
• Low user awareness: Many people do not know how to protect their data.

8. Fight against carders​

Governments and companies are taking active steps to combat carding:

a) Legislation​

• Introduction of strict laws against cybercrime (for example, Article 159.6 of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation in Russia).
• International cooperation to combat carding groups.

b) Security technologies​

• Implementation of EMV chips and tokenization to protect card data.
• Using artificial intelligence to detect suspicious transactions.

c) Education​

• Educating users about data protection methods.
• Training company employees in the basics of cybersecurity.

9. Why did the era of carders become possible?​

The development of carding was made possible by several factors:

• Rise in popularity of credit cards: More people started using cards for purchases.
• The rise of the Internet: The Internet has provided a new channel for attacks and trading in stolen data.
• Darknet and cryptocurrencies: Anonymity made it possible to conduct illegal transactions.
• Insufficient data protection: Many companies did not pay enough attention to protecting their customers' data.

10. The end of the carding era?​

With the development of technologies such as:

• EMV chips (replacing magnetic stripes).
• Tokenization (replacing real card data with temporary tokens).
• Biometric authentication, carding is becoming less effective. However, criminals continue to adapt:
• Transition to targeted attacks on large companies.
• Use of new techniques such as social engineering and phishing.
• Exploitation of vulnerabilities in mobile applications and IoT devices.

11. Conclusion​

The era of carders has become part of the history of cybercrime, but the problem itself remains relevant. Carders are constantly improving their methods, which makes the fight against them a difficult task. However, with the development of protection technologies (EMV, tokenization, biometrics) and increased user awareness, we can hope for a decrease in the number of successful attacks.

If you need more information about carding, its methods or ways to protect yourself, write!

 

[Man]

The Age of Carders: The Rise and Fall of the Dark Web​

Carding (from the English carding - fraud with bank cards) experienced its heyday in 2000-2015, but today it has been almost destroyed by global security systems.

The Golden Era of Carding (2000–2010s)​

1. Why did it work?​

• Weak payment protection:
  • Magnetic stripes were easily copied (ATM skimmers).
  • No 3D-Secure → it was possible to pay without SMS.
  • Banks did not analyze transactions in real time.
• Anonymity on the Internet:
  • Tor and forums (CarderPlanet, Dumps Market) allowed data to be traded openly.
  • Bitcoin was not popular yet → cashed out through Western Union.
• High-profile hacks:
  • 2005–2007: Albert Gonzalez stole 170 million cards (TJX, Heartland).
  • 2009: Hackers break into RBS WorldPay payment processor → $9 million stolen.

2. How did carders work?​

• Skimming (copying data from cards via ATMs).
• Phishing (fake bank websites).
• Trojans (Zeus, SpyEye - stole data from browsers).
• Drops (front men for cashing out).

3. Legendary sites​

• CarderPlanet (2001–2005) — the first global forum.
• DarkMarket (2008) - closed by the FBI, administrator arrested.
• Rescator (2013) – sale of data from Target (40 million cards).

The Collapse of an Era (2015–2024)​

1. Technologies that killed carding​

EMV chips (cannot be cloned).
3D-Secure 2.0 (mandatory SMS authentication).
AI in banks (algorithms block 99% of suspicious transactions).
Blockchain analysis (cryptocurrencies are no longer anonymous).

2. Global Hunt​

• 2015: The FBI arrested 24 carders in Operation Trinity Bridge.
• 2017: Closure of AlphaBay and Hansa Market.
• 2022: Hydra Market (the largest darknet marketplace) is destroyed.

3. Why is carding dead?​

Factor	2005–2010	2024
Cloning cards	5 minutes	Impossible
Cashing out	Through drops	Blocking in 2 sec
Risk of arrest	5%	95% (FSB/Interpol)

What replaced it?​

1. Crypto scams (fake ICOs, “investment assistance”).
2. Social engineering (“call from the bank” → transfer to a “safe account”).
3. Business attacks (BEC, ransomware).

Legal Alternatives​

If you are interested in technology and hacking, go into legal cybersecurity:
Bug Bounty (up to $500,000 for vulnerabilities, HackerOne).
Fraud Analyst (work in a bank, salary up to $5,000).
Ethical Hacker (testing company protection).

Conclusion: Carding today is a guaranteed term. In 2025, 87% of carders were detained within a year. It is much more profitable and safer to work on protection, rather than on crime.

Do you want a legal guide to cybersecurity? Write!

 

[Cloned Boy]

The era of carders is a period when fraud using payment cards became a mass phenomenon, especially with the development of e-commerce and online banking. Carding, as a type of fraud, emerged in the 1990s, when online stores began to actively develop and did not always have sufficient security measures to protect against intruders.

Who are carders?​

Carders are criminals who steal credit card data and use it for illegal transactions. They may use a variety of methods to obtain information, including phishing, skimming, and database hacks. These criminals often operate in groups and may have complex schemes, including creating counterfeit cards and using anonymous networks to hide their activities.

Methods of work of carders​

1. Data Acquisition: Carders use a variety of techniques to steal card data, including:
   • Malicious software that is installed on victims' computers.
   • Skimmers that are installed on ATMs or terminals to read card data.
2. Using Stolen Data: Once the data is obtained, carders can use it to make online purchases, transfer funds, or even create counterfeit cards.
3. Anonymity and Security: To hide their activities, carders often use VPNs, proxy servers and other technologies that help them remain undetected.

Why is carding still relevant?​

Carding continues to be popular due to several factors:

• The rise of online retail: As the number of online stores increases, so do the opportunities for fraud.
• Insufficient data protection: Many users do not follow basic security rules, making them easy targets for carders.
• Online anonymity: Technologies that allow one to hide one's identity make carders less vulnerable to law enforcement.

Conclusion​

The era of carders poses a serious threat to the security of users' financial data. With the advancement of technology and the increase in online transactions, it is important to raise awareness of protection and security methods to minimize the risks associated with carding.