Carders, like any other criminals, may give up their activities for various reasons. This decision is often associated with an awareness of the risks, consequences, or a change in life priorities. Let's consider the main reasons why carders stop fraud:
1. Criminal liability
Risk of Imprisonment: Many carders understand that their actions can result in serious penalties, including lengthy prison terms.
Example: Arrests of well-known groups (e.g. Cobalt, Carbanak) demonstrate that law enforcement is effectively combating cybercrime.
Strengthening Laws: Strict cybercrime laws and international cooperation make carding less safe.
2. Financial losses
Fines and Forfeitures: When convicted, carders have all assets confiscated, including money, property, and vehicles.
Low Returns: Many newbies lose money buying tools, courses or data that turn out to be useless.
3. Psychological pressure
Constant Fear: Living in fear of arrest, surveillance, or exposure creates enormous stress.
Guilt: Some carders begin to feel remorse for causing harm to other people or companies.
4. Technological changes
Improving Security: Banks and companies are constantly improving their security systems, making carding more difficult and risky.
Example: Implementation of EMV chips, tokenization and transaction monitoring systems.
Difficulty scaling: Modern technologies make it difficult to use stolen data on a mass scale.
5. Personal changes
Family and Relationships: Many carders give up criminal activity for the sake of family, children or loved ones.
Example: Realizing that their actions may harm loved ones.
Changing priorities: Over time, people begin to value stability, legal work and social recognition.
6. Deception within the community
Risks on the Darknet: Darknet forums are full of scammers who deceive newcomers, sell fake databases or extort money.
Example: Losing money on purchasing "empty" data.
Threats from competitors: Carders are often targeted by other criminals.
7. Legal alternatives
High demand for IT specialists: Many carders have technical skills that can be applied in the legal sphere.
Example: Working in cybersecurity, software development, or data analytics.
Business Opportunities: Some people find ways to make money legally using their knowledge and experience.
8. Consequences for life
Damage to reputation: Participation in carding can permanently damage your reputation, making it difficult to find a job or do business with banks.
Social Isolation: Friends, family, and coworkers may turn away from the person after learning about his or her activities.
9. Law enforcement activity
Arrests and Raids: Successful operations against carding groups demonstrate that law enforcement can find even the most cautious criminals.
Example: Closing forums like Joker's Stash or Genesis Market.
International cooperation: Countries join forces to combat cybercrime, increasing the chances of being caught.
10. Understanding the consequences
Moral Principles: Some carders are beginning to realize that their actions are causing real harm to ordinary people.
Examples of failure: Stories of other carders who got caught and ended up in jail can be a lesson.
11. Conclusion
Carders abandon criminal activity for a variety of reasons, from fear of the law and psychological pressure to personal changes and awareness of the consequences. It is important to remember that carding is not only illegal, but also extremely risky. Instead, consider legal ways to apply your skills, such as working in IT, cybersecurity, or the fintech industry.
If you have any further questions about why carders abandon criminal activity, write!
The refusal to card is usually due to a combination of factors, from fear of jail to the realization that legal ways are more profitable. Here are the main reasons:
1. High risk of getting caught
Surveillance technologies:
Banks block 99% of suspicious transactions through AI fraud systems.
Chainalysis Tracks Crypto Transfers - Even Bitcoin Isn't Anonymous
Solving rate:
In 2024, 87% of carders were caught within a year.
Example: A group of 5 people who stole $50,000,000 through skimming were arrested after 3 months via CCTV and photo metadata.
2. Harsh punishments
Criminal Code:
Up to 10 years in prison + fines up to $1,000,000.
Confiscation of property (apartments, cars, cryptocurrency).
Lifelong consequences:
Ban on working in banks/IT.
Inclusion in blacklists.
3. Low profitability
Previously (2010s):
Successful carders earned $10,000–50,000 per month .
Now (2024):
Due to EMV, AI monitoring and 3D-Secure, the average income has fallen to $500–2000, while the risks have increased several times.
Example: Carder spent 3 months organizing the scheme, but 90% of transactions were blocked and his crypto accounts were frozen via Chainalysis.
4. Pressure from law enforcement agencies
International cooperation:
The US, EU and Russia exchange data through Interpol.
Extradition : In 2023, a Russian was extradited to the United States for hacking credit cards.
Operations against the darknet:
Closure of Hydra (2022) and RAMP (2023) - the largest carding platforms.
5. Ethical awareness and fatigue
Victims:
Many carders come across stories of people who have lost their last money (pensioners, single mothers).
Stress:
Constant fear of arrest, living under someone else’s documents.
Example:
A former carder from Yekaterinburg left for White Hat after 2 years of fraud after learning that his scheme left a disabled person without funds.
6. Legal High Income Alternatives
The same skills can be applied legally and earn more:
Direction
Salary (RF/month)
How to start?
Pentesters
$1500–5000
OSCP Certification
AML analyst
$1200–3000
ACAMS course
Bug Bounty
$500-500,000 per vulnerability
HackerOne
Stories of former carders
"Alexey" (former skimmer):
After 2 years of fraud, he was sentenced to 4 years. After prison, he got a job as a software tester.
"Dmitry" (phishing):
Realized the risks when the FBI arrested his accomplice. Now works in cybersecurity.
Conclusion
Carding today is high risk, low profit and a guaranteed term . It is much more profitable to: Retrain in cybersecurity. Earn on Bug Bounty (legally and without fear of prison). Work in fintech - the same skills, but with a stable salary.
Carders may abandon their illegal activity for a number of reasons related to risks, consequences, and changes in their life circumstances. Here are the main factors that may prompt them to stop carding:
1. Fear of being caught
Risk of arrest and punishment: Carding is a crime, and law enforcement is actively fighting it. Carders understand that they can get caught sooner or later, especially if they make mistakes, such as using non-anonymous methods of operation or leaving digital traces.
Tightening Laws: In recent years, laws against cyber fraud have become stricter and penalties harsher. This increases the likelihood of serious consequences, including lengthy prison sentences.
2. Psychological pressure
Constant stress: The life of a carder is associated with constant fear of exposure, which can cause severe psychological stress. Many carders become tired of having to hide and live in a state of anxiety.
Guilt: Some people become aware of the moral aspects of their actions and feel guilty for harming others whose data they use.
3. Financial instability
Unpredictability of income: While carding can bring in quick money, it does not guarantee a stable income. Carders may face a situation where their schemes stop working or they lose access to the stolen data.
Competition and risks: There is a lot of competition in the carding world, as well as the risk of being scammed by other scammers, which makes this activity less attractive.
4. Change in life circumstances
Family and loved ones: Some carders give up criminal activity when they start a family or start caring for loved ones. They realize that their actions can harm not only themselves, but also their loved ones.
Finding Legitimate Alternatives: People can find legitimate ways to make money that are stable and risk-free. For example, former carders sometimes use their technical skills to work in cybersecurity.
5. Pressure from law enforcement agencies
International cooperation: Law enforcement agencies from different countries actively cooperate to combat carding, which makes this activity more dangerous. For example, arrests of large groups of carders show that even experienced criminals are not immune from detection.
Shutting down forums and black markets: Shutting down platforms where stolen data is sold makes it harder to access the resources needed for carding.
6. Understanding the consequences
Legal and Financial Consequences: Carders understand that if arrested, they could face large fines, confiscation of property, and lengthy prison terms.
Reputational risks: Participation in carding can permanently damage a person's reputation, making it difficult for them to return to normal life.
Conclusion
Carders give up their activities for various reasons: from fear of punishment to awareness of the moral and psychological consequences. Many of them find legal ways to earn money that provide stability and security, which makes giving up carding a more attractive choice.
Retrain in cybersecurity.
