What awareness campaigns help reduce carding victims?

[Student]

To provide a deeper understanding of carding and the role of awareness campaigns in reducing the number of victims, I will examine the problem, its mechanisms, key initiatives, their approaches, effectiveness, and practical recommendations in detail. The goal is to provide a comprehensive overview that will be useful for educational purposes. I will also consider the Russian context, where carding remains a significant threat, and include data from available sources, such as cybercrime reports and campaigns described on websites and in social media posts.

What is carding and why is it dangerous?​

Carding is a form of cyber fraud in which criminals use stolen bank card information (number, CVV, expiration date) to conduct unauthorized transactions. Carders typically test cards with small payments (e.g., $1–5) on controlled websites to verify their validity, and then use them for larger purchases or withdrawals. According to Group-IB's Hi-Tech Crime Trends 2020/2021 report, the carding market grew by 116% year-on-year, reaching $1.9 billion, and this figure is likely to increase in 2024 due to the growth of online transactions. In Russia, according to the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, more than 1 million cases of bank card fraud were recorded in 2023, a significant portion of which were related to carding.

Why is carding booming?

• Data Availability: Personal data is sold on the dark web (for example, on sites like Joker's Stash, which was shut down in 2021) for $5–50 per card.
• Low awareness: Many users do not check statements or ignore small charges.
• Technological complexity: Carders use automated scripts and botnets to test thousands of cards simultaneously.
• Social engineering: Phishing, fake websites, and malicious apps collect user data.

Consequences for victims:

• Financial losses (from minor write-offs to complete loss of funds).
• Personal data leakage leading to further attacks.
• Emotional stress and loss of trust in online payments.

Awareness campaigns play a key role in educating users to recognize threats, protect data, and respond to incidents. They are effective when they combine information, behavioral changes, and technological measures.

Mechanisms for effective awareness-raising campaigns​

Campaigns aimed at reducing the number of carding victims operate through multiple channels and approaches. They target different audiences (consumers, businesses, and seniors) and utilize proven behavior change methods. Here are the key mechanisms that make them successful:

1. Educational programs:
   • Objective: To teach users to recognize signs of carding (e.g., unfamiliar transactions, suspicious websites).
   • Methods: Interactive courses, attack simulations, infographics, video tutorials.
   • Example: Kaspersky Security Awareness Platform offers modules where users undergo tests to recognize phishing emails and fake payment pages. According to Kaspersky, such training reduces the likelihood of attacks by 50-70% in companies.
2. Mass communication:
   • Objective: To convey information to a wide audience through the media, social networks and partnerships.
   • Methods: Videos with celebrities, social media posts, contextual alerts in messengers.
   • Example: Meta's Global Anti-Scam Awareness campaign (December 2024) used celebrities (e.g., Ayushmann Khurrana in India) and contextual WhatsApp notifications to increase awareness by 40% in target countries.
3. Partnerships with institutions:
   • Goal: To unite the efforts of banks, law enforcement agencies and technology companies.
   • Methods: Joint campaigns, integration with banking applications, support from regulators.
   • Example: Take Five to Stop Fraud in the UK partners with banks and Pay.UK to promote tips like "Check before you click." This has resulted in a 15% reduction in carding losses by 2023–2024.
4. Behavioral changes:
   • Goal: To form habits such as using two-factor authentication (2FA) or monitoring transactions.
   • Methods: Practical advice, reminders, gamification.
   • Example: Europol's Think Before You Click campaign includes simulations that teach users to check websites before entering data. This increased fraud detection by 30%.
5. Technological support:
   • Objective: To integrate security tools (e.g. transaction notifications, virtual cards).
   • Methods: Collaboration with banks and payment systems to implement 3D Secure or tokenization.
   • Example: In Russia, Sberbank and Tinkoff promote transaction notifications and limits on small payments, which reduces the success of carding.

Examples of successful campaigns​

Below are detailed descriptions of key campaigns, highlighting their approaches and results. I've selected initiatives that have measurable effectiveness and are applicable to the Russian context.

1. Scams Awareness Campaign (Citizens Advice, UK):
   • Description: An annual campaign (October-November) focusing on financial fraud, including carding. It uses videos, posters, webinars, and partnerships with the Consumer Protection Partnership.
   • Key messages: "Don't enter data on suspicious websites", "Check your statements", "Use 2FA".
   • Methods: Social media (X, FB, Instagram), radio, and bank flyers. In 2024, the campaign reached 5 million people through X.
   • Results: A 20-30% reduction in the number of victims among participants (Citizens Advice surveys); a 35% increase in the number of users verifying transactions.
2. Global Anti-Scam Awareness Campaign (Meta, global):
   • Description: Launched in December 2024, ahead of the holiday season, when carding activity peaks. Focus on fake coupons, gift cards, and fake payment pages.
   • Key messages: "Don't trust offers that are too good", "Check the URL before paying".
   • Methods: Contextual alerts on WhatsApp and Instagram, videos with local celebrities, partnerships with governments (e.g. MeitY in India).
   • Results: 10 million fraudulent accounts blocked; 40% increase in awareness in the US, India, and UK; 25% decrease in scam complaints (Meta data, 2024).
3. Kaspersky Security Awareness Platform (globally, including Russia):
   • Description: A platform for training employees and users on cybersecurity. Includes modules on carding, phishing, and social engineering.
   • Key messages: "Don't store card data on websites", "Use virtual cards", "Check HTTPS".
   • Methods: Interactive simulations, tests, progress reports. In Russia, the platform is used by banks and large companies.
   • Results: 50–70% reduction in incidents at participating companies; coverage of 2 million users by 2024 (Kaspersky data).
4. Take Five to Stop Fraud (UK Finance, United Kingdom):
   • Description: A national campaign launched in 2016, focusing on financial fraud. Partners with banks, police, and Pay.UK.
   • Key messages: "Take a break before transferring", "Don't share CVV", "Verify the recipient".
   • Methods: Videos, X posts, SMS notifications from banks, leaflets.
   • Results: 15% reduction in carding losses by 2023–2024; 80% awareness among adults (UK Finance survey).
5. Think Before You Click (Europol and ENISA, Europe):
   • Description: Part of EU Cybersecurity Month. Focus on carding, phishing, and data theft.
   • Key messages: "Check URLs", "Don't click on suspicious links", "Use antivirus".
   • Methods: Online courses, attack simulations, infographics, posts on forums.
   • Results: Increase in fraud detection by 30%; coverage of 10 million users in 2024 (ENISA data).

Why are campaigns effective?​

1. Educational effect:
   • A 2024 study in the European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research found that targeted campaigns (for example, targeting individuals over 40, who are most vulnerable to carding) reduce fraud by 25%. This is due to training in recognizing phishing and small charges.
   • Campaigns explain how carders operate, such as using fake websites or testing cards through small transactions.
2. Behavioral changes:
   • The campaigns foster habits such as checking statements, using 2FA, and using virtual cards. According to Kaspersky, 60% of users who completed the training began regularly monitoring their accounts.
   • Gamification (tests, simulations) increases engagement by 40% compared to simple leaflets.
3. Wide coverage:
   • Social media (X, Telegram, FB, VK) and partnerships with banks allow us to reach millions. For example, Meta's X posts received 15 million views per month in 2024.
   • Localization (for example, videos in Russian or Hindi) increases effectiveness by 20–30% (Meta data).
4. Measured efficiency:
   • Campaigns with metrics (surveys, reduction in complaints) show ROI: for every dollar invested, there is $3–5 in savings from prevented losses (data from UK Finance).
   • For example, Take Five led to a 20% reduction in casualties among the elderly through targeted messaging.

Practical recommendations for protecting against carding​

Based on campaigns and best practices, here are steps to help reduce your risk of becoming a victim:

1. Protect your card details:
   • Do not enter data on websites without HTTPS (check the lock in the address bar).
   • Use virtual cards for online purchases (available at Sberbank, Tinkoff, and Yandex.Money).
   • Never share CVV or OTP codes.
2. Transaction monitoring:
   • Turn on transaction notifications in your banking app.
   • Check your statements monthly for small charges (1–100 rubles).
   • Set limits on online payments (for example, up to 1000 rubles without confirmation).
3. Technological measures:
   • Activate 3D Secure (payment confirmation via SMS or app).
   • Use antivirus software (e.g. Kaspersky, Norton) to protect against phishing.
   • Set up two-factor authentication for banking apps.
4. Training and Vigilance:
   • Take training courses on platforms like Kaspersky or ENISA.
   • Ignore suspicious emails/messages asking you to enter your card details.
   • Check store URLs before paying (e.g. "amazonn.com" instead of "amazon.com").
5. What to do if you become a victim?
   • Contact your bank immediately.
   • Block your card and request a refund.
   • File a police report and keep evidence (screenshots, extracts).

Conclusion​

Awareness campaigns such as Scams Awareness, Meta's Global Campaign, Kaspersky Platform, Take Five, and Think Before You Click have proven effective in reducing the number of carding victims. They work through education, behavior change, widespread outreach, and technological support. In Russia, similar initiatives (by the Central Bank of the Russian Federation and banks) are showing progress but require greater localization and social media engagement. Practical steps such as using 2FA, virtual cards, and transaction monitoring can protect users. For educational purposes, it is important to continue studying successful cases and adapting them to local realities to minimize the financial and emotional losses from carding.