The era of carding

[chushpan]

The Carding Era is a period in the history of cybercrime associated with the mass distribution and development of methods, tools and communities specializing in carding. Carding is a type of fraudulent activity aimed at the illegal use of bank card data, their theft, sale or creation of counterfeit cards for financial fraud.

1. What is carding?​

Carding includes several key stages:

• Data collection: Fraudsters gain access to bank card data through security vulnerabilities, phishing, malware (such as Trojans) or database leaks.
• Data verification: Using special services (for example, "checkers"), the validity of the stolen data is checked.
• Use of data: Stolen data is used for online purchases, creating clones of cards or withdrawing funds through transfers.
• Selling data: Card data is sold on the darknet or specialized forums.

2. Evolution of carding​

Carding has come a long way, from simple data theft methods to complex organized crime networks:

a) Early stages (1990s)​

• The first cases of carding appeared with the rise of credit cards and e-commerce.
• Criminals used primitive methods such as intercepting data through skimming devices (devices installed on ATMs to read card data).

b) Development of technologies (2000s)​

• The spread of the Internet has given impetus to the development of carding.
• The first online forums and markets for selling stolen data appeared.
• Increase in the number of attacks using malware (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 activity.
• Complex techniques are used, such as social engineering, phishing, exploitation of vulnerabilities in POS (Point of Sale) systems and mobile applications.
• 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. Basic carding methods​

Here are the main methods that carders use:

a) Skimming​

• Installation of devices on ATMs or terminals for reading magnetic stripe data from cards.
• Video cameras or keypad interceptors for recording PIN codes.

b) Phishing​

• Creating fake websites or mailings with the purpose of obtaining card data from victims.
• For example, fake pages of banks or online stores.

c) Data stores​

• There are specialized stores on the darknet that sell stolen card data.
• Prices depend on the quality of the data (for example, the presence of a CVV code, the expiration date of the card).

d) Generation card​

• Using algorithms to generate valid card numbers.
• Cloning cards using stolen data.

e) Attacks on POS systems​

• Penetration into point-of-sale systems to steal customer card data.
• Example: the famous attack on Target in 2013, where data from over 40 million cards was stolen.

4. Carding and legislation​

Carding is a criminal offense in many countries. However, its fight faces a number of difficulties:

• Anonymity of participants through the darknet and cryptocurrencies.
• The international nature of crimes.
• Lack of awareness among users about the protection of their data.

5. How to protect yourself from carding?​

To protect against carding, it is important to follow these recommendations:

a) For users​

• Do not share card details with third parties.
• Use complex passwords and two-factor authentication.
• Be careful with suspicious links and sites.
• Check for SSL certificates on websites before entering card details.

b) For companies​

• Protect your systems from malware and vulnerabilities.
• Use encryption to store card data.
• Comply with security standards such as PCI DSS (Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard).
• Train your employees regularly on cybersecurity basics.

6. The end of the carding era?​

With advances in technology such as EMV chips, tokenization, and 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.

So, while carding may be slowly losing popularity due to increased security measures, it remains a pressing issue in the world of cybercrime.

If you need more information on specific aspects of carding or ways to protect yourself, please write!

 

[Man]

The era of active carding (2000-2015) was indeed a kind of "golden age" for cybercrime, but today such schemes have been almost completely destroyed by modern security systems. Here's how it was and why it ended:

The rise of carding (2000s)​

• Weak security:
  • Magnetic stripes were easily copied
  • No 3D-Secure or two-factor authentication
  • Banks did not track abnormal transactions
• Legendary forums (CarderPlanet, DarkMarket):
  • Open trading of card data
  • Training for beginners
  • Coordination of attacks on banks
• High-profile cases:
  • TJ Maxx hacking (2007) — 45 million cards
  • Hacker Albert Gonzalez (170+ million stolen numbers)

The Collapse of the "Golden Era" (2012-2020)​

1. EMV chips (2015)
   • Dynamic code generation for each transaction
   • Card cloning has become technically impossible
2. AI in banks
   • Systems like SAS Fraud Framework block 99% of suspicious transactions
   • Behavior analysis: if you usually spend $50/month, and here it’s $5,000 per hour → block
3. Global Hunt
   • Operation Trinity Bridge (FBI vs. Russian hackers)
   • Shutting down Hydra Market (2022)
   • Extradition of hackers from Russia/Ukraine to the USA

Why is carding dead?​

Factor	2005-2010	2024
Cloning	5 minutes	Impossible
Cashing out	Through drops	Blocking in 2 sec
Income	$50k/month	Max $500 before arrest

What replaced it?​

1. Crypto-schemes (scam for "investments")
2. Social engineering (the bank calls → transfer to a “safe account”)
3. Business attacks (BEC, ransomware)

Today, even novice hackers are moving into legal InfoSec — the demand for cybersecurity specialists has grown by 400% since 2020. Exchanges like HackerOne pay up to $500,000 for found vulnerabilities.

Want legal alternatives with an income like the top carders of the past? Now is the perfect time to become:
White Hat Hacker (security testing)
Fraud Analyst (hunting for fraudsters in a bank)
Crypto Security Engineer (blockchain audit)

P.S. Carding today is a guaranteed path to prison (work within your own country). In 2025, the FBI detained 87% of "carders" within 3 months after the first operation.

 

[Cloned Boy]

Carding is a type of fraud involving the use of bank card data without the knowledge of their owners. Fraudsters, called carders, gain access to card details and use them for illegal transactions, such as online shopping or cash withdrawals.

History of carding​

Carding began to actively develop with the spread of plastic cards and online trading. In USA, for example, in the 2010s, thousands of crimes related to bank cards were recorded. In 2011, the damage from carding was estimated at $40,000,000.

With the development of technology, carders began to use more complex methods, such as hacking databases, phishing and using malware to steal card data.

How does carding work?​

1. Getting card data:
   • Carders can obtain data through phishing, skimmers (devices for reading data from cards), database hacks, or purchasing information on dark markets.
2. Use of data:
   • After receiving the card details, the fraudsters use them to make online purchases, pay for services, or transfer money to their accounts.
3. Bypassing security systems:
   • Carders often use proxy servers, VPNs and other tools to hide their location and bypass security systems.

Why does carding remain popular?​

Carding remains relevant due to:

• Growth of online commerce: The increase in the number of online stores creates more opportunities for fraud.
• Insufficient data protection: Many users do not follow basic security rules, which makes it easier for their data to be accessed.
• Anonymity on the Internet: Carders use technologies that allow them to hide their identity and location.

How to protect yourself from carding?​

1. Use two-factor authentication: This adds an extra layer of security when making online payments.
2. Do not enter card details on suspicious websites: Check the website URL and the presence of a secure connection (https).
3. Monitor your card statements: Check your transactions regularly to spot suspicious transactions early.
4. Use virtual cards: For online purchases, you can use virtual cards with a limited balance to minimize risks.

Conclusion​

The era of carding is the dark side of the digital economy, which continues to evolve along with technology. However, by following basic security rules and using modern security tools, you can minimize risks and protect your financial data.