Why will carding remain one of the most common forms of cybercrime in 2025?

[Student]

Carding, a form of cybercrime involving the illegal use of credit and debit card data, will remain one of the most prevalent in 2025 due to a combination of technical, social, economic, and organizational factors. Let's take a closer look at why this form of fraud continues to thrive despite prevention efforts and examine key aspects for educational purposes.

1. Availability of tools and data for carding​

Carding remains popular due to the low barrier to entry for cybercriminals. In 2025, the black market ecosystem on the darknet and even on some open internet resources provides everything needed to start a carding career:

• Stolen card data:
  • Massive data breaches from online stores, payment systems, healthcare institutions, and other organizations continue to occur. For example, in 2024, several major breaches were recorded, exposing millions of card records. Such data is sold on darknet forums for small amounts—from a few cents to tens of dollars per card, depending on its type and region.
  • Data formats include "dumps" (full card magnetic stripe data) and "fulls" (full information including CVV, owner name, address, etc.), making them suitable for various types of fraud.
• Carding tools:
  • Programs for generating card numbers (based on Luhn algorithms), bots for checking card validity (carding bots), and services for bypassing security systems (for example, geolocation substitution or device emulation) are available even to beginners.
  • Ready-made kits ("tutorials") and step-by-step instructions are distributed on the darknet and even on some legal platforms, such as Telegram channels, which reduces technical barriers.
• Learning and Communities:
  • Darknet forums like RaidForums (though it was shut down, similar ones continue to pop up) provide platforms for sharing experiences, purchasing tools, and hiring "experts." This creates an entire ecosystem where newcomers can quickly learn.

Why is this important? Accessibility makes carding attractive to a wide range of people, including those without deep technical knowledge. This democratizes cybercrime, increasing the number of participants.

2. High profitability and low risks​

Carding remains financially attractive due to the potential for high profits at relatively low costs:

• Fast monetization:
  • Stolen card data allows users to make online purchases, transfer funds to shell accounts, or purchase cryptocurrency. For example, a carder can purchase electronics and then resell them for cash or cryptocurrency.
  • In some cases, carders use cards to purchase digital assets (such as gift cards) that can be easily cashed out.
• Low costs:
  • To get started, simply purchase card data (costing between $0.50 and $50 per card) and basic tools (such as fake accounts or a VPN for a few dollars). This makes carding accessible even to those with limited resources.
• Difficulty of punishment:
  • Online anonymity (Tor, VPN, cryptocurrency) significantly reduces the risk of being caught. Even if a transaction is traced, proving a specific individual's involvement is difficult, especially if the criminal operates from a jurisdiction with low levels of international cooperation.
  • Law enforcement agencies often focus on large cybercrime groups while ignoring smaller carders, creating a sense of impunity.

Why is this important? High returns and low risk make carding attractive to criminals, especially in economically struggling regions where it is seen as "easy money."

3. Vulnerabilities in payment systems and human error​

Despite significant improvements in security systems (such as the introduction of EMV chips, tokenization, and two-factor authentication), carding continues to thrive due to vulnerabilities:

• Human factor:
  • Phishing remains the primary method for obtaining card data. Fraudsters use fake websites, emails, or messaging apps to trick users into revealing their data.
  • Social engineering, including calls from "bank security," remains effective. In 2025, such attacks have become more sophisticated, using AI to create convincing fake voices or text messages.
• Technical vulnerabilities:
  • Many online stores, especially small and medium-sized businesses, fail to implement adequate security measures, such as 3D-Secure or transaction monitoring systems. This leaves them vulnerable to attacks.
  • Internet of Things (IoT) devices, such as smart POS terminals, often have weak security and can be hacked to intercept data.
• Massive data leaks:
  • Major breaches of corporate databases (for example, through supply chain attacks or exploitation of vulnerabilities in cloud services) continue to fuel the market for stolen data. In 2024, for example, several major incidents were recorded in which hackers gained access to millions of records.

Why is this important? System vulnerabilities and human gullibility create a constant flow of data for carders, while inadequate security in small businesses expands their reach.

4. Evolution of carding methods​

Carders are constantly adapting to new security measures, making them challenging to combat:

• Automation:
  • Mass card testing bots (carding bots) test thousands of card number combinations on vulnerable platforms, such as websites without 3D-Secure. This allows for the rapid detection of valid cards.
  • AI and machine learning are used to analyze user behavior and bypass fraud detection systems (for example, by mimicking "normal" shopping behavior).
• Supply chain attacks:
  • Instead of directly hacking payment systems, carders target third parties, such as POS software providers or e-commerce platforms. This allows them to gain access to large amounts of data at once.
• Use of cryptocurrencies:
  • Cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin or Monero are used to cash out funds, making transactions more difficult to track.
• Mobile carding:
  • In 2025, the rise of mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) has led to the emergence of new carding methods, such as token interception or exploitation of vulnerabilities in mobile applications.

Why is this important? Constantly evolving methods allow carders to stay ahead of security measures, requiring the industry to continually update its security technologies.

5. The rise of digitalization and globalization​

The digitalization of the economy and the growth of online transactions create favorable conditions for carding:

• Increase in the number of transactions:
  • In 2025, e-commerce volume continues to grow, especially in developing countries. This increases the number of potential targets for carders.
  • The pandemic and the subsequent shift to online shopping have reinforced a trend that remains relevant.
• Global nature of operations:
  • Carders from one country can target stores or users in another, complicating coordination between law enforcement agencies. For example, a carder from Eastern Europe might use card data from the US to make purchases in Asia.
• Expansion of payment systems:
  • New payment platforms and fintech startups, often with insufficient security, are becoming targets. For example, "Buy Now, Pay Later" services are attracting the attention of fraudsters.

Why is this important? The rise of digitalization expands the attack surface, and globalization complicates the fight against crime.

6. Socio-economic factors​

Carding is also fueled by social and economic conditions:

• Economic inequality:
  • In low-income regions, carding is seen as a way to make quick money. This is especially true in countries with high unemployment or economic instability.
• Cybercrime Culture:
  • In some communities, cybercrime is romanticized, and successful hackers are elevated to "heroes." This attracts young people to carding.

Why is this important? Socioeconomic factors ensure a constant influx of new participants into the carding ecosystem.

7. Problems of counteraction​

The fight against carding faces a number of obstacles:

• Legal restrictions:
  • Different countries have different cybercrime laws, and international cooperation is often hampered by bureaucracy. For example, extraditing cybercriminals from some countries is virtually impossible.
• Lack of resources:
  • Law enforcement agencies and companies do not always have sufficient resources to combat small-scale carders, focusing instead on large, organized groups.
• Low digital literacy:
  • Users often don't know how to protect their data, making it easier for scammers. Even basic measures, such as using complex passwords or two-factor authentication, are ignored by many.

Why is this important? Coordination difficulties and lack of awareness create a favorable environment for carding.

How to combat carding?​

For educational purposes, it is important to consider measures that can reduce the prevalence of carding:

1. Technological measures:
   • Implementing stricter security standards, such as mandatory two-factor authentication and tokenization for all transactions.
   • Using AI to detect suspicious transactions in real time.
2. User education:
   • Improving digital literacy through campaigns that teach users how to recognize phishing and protect their data.
3. International cooperation:
   • Strengthening coordination between countries to combat cross-border cybercrime.
4. Darknet regulation:
   • More active shutdown of forums and platforms where card data is traded, although this is a difficult task due to the decentralized nature of the darknet.
5. Strengthening protection for small businesses:
   • Support for small and medium-sized businesses in the implementation of modern security systems, such as PCI DSS.

Conclusion​

Carding will remain one of the most prevalent forms of cybercrime in 2025 due to a combination of the availability of tools, high profitability, system vulnerabilities, evolving methods, and socioeconomic factors. Its resilience is explained by the ability of criminals to adapt to new security measures and exploit human error. Effective combat requires a comprehensive approach, including technological innovation, increased digital literacy, and international cooperation. Understanding these factors is essential for developing strategies to protect against and prevent cybercrime in the future.