“There’s a disproportionately high number of cards available [in Hong Kong] considering the population size, so there’s a much higher chance of any given card being on the [dark web] databases,” he said. Stolen details originating from Hong Kong and the Philippines commanded the highest price per card of almost US$20, the study found. While most of this article is related to ecommerce, one of the ways that bad guys use stolen card numbers is via a face-to-face transaction that is not “dipped” into the chip reader. While the Dark Web is intentionally cloaked in anonymity making it mysterious to the outside observer, it actually operates much like the Surface Web where we interact every day. However, the web browsers you are accustomed to, such as Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer and Safari, will not access a search result from this side of the web.
The Lifecycle of Internet Fraud: How Credit Cards are Stolen, Sold and Used for Illegal Purchases
Buying stolen credit cards on the dark web is a dangerous and illegal activity. However, there are people who still choose to engage in this criminal behavior. If you are curious about how to buy stolen credit cards on the dark web, here are some steps that individuals typically follow:
Step 1: Accessing the Dark Web
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Therefore, an identity theft monitoring program must be implemented as protection from potential malicious actors. This is according to a recent study from virtual private network service provider NordVPN, which examined the data behind 6 million stolen payment cards. The report said that, many times, they cost nothing at all — they’re given away for free as part of a bundle with other information. Over 60% of cards were sold alongside other personal information relating to the victim, such as their address, phone number, email address, date of birth, or Social Security number. This information can be used to bolster the deception, as the buyer can provide other information to those checking for fraud.
In order to buy stolen credit cards, one must first access the dark web. This requires special software such as Tor, which allows users to browse anonymously. Once on the dark web, individuals can search for websites that sell stolen credit card information.
For example, the Marriott data breach of 2018 affected 500 million customers and included information like passport details, email addresses, and credit card information. According to a 2021 Nilson Report on credit card fraud, the amount of money lost to card-not-present fraud in 2020 was six times greater than what merchants lost just one year earlier. Hence the need to make sure that any purchases made on your website require a security code. As much as retailers have benefited from ecommerce sales, online credit card fraud has jumped significantly across the U.S.
Step 2: Finding the Right Marketplace
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There are numerous online marketplaces on the dark web where stolen credit card information is sold. Some popular ones include AlphaBay, Dream Market, and Hansa. Users will need to create accounts on these platforms and navigate through the listings to find the credit card information they are looking for.
Step 3: Making a Purchase
It is essential to understand that participating in credit card transactions on the Dark Web is illegal and unethical. Engaging in illegal activities can lead to severe legal repercussions, including fines and imprisonment. Moreover, the financial repercussions for victims of credit card fraud can be devastating. It is crucial to approach the Dark Web with caution and fully understand the risks involved. It is illegal and unethical to engage in activities that exploit stolen credit card information.
Once a suitable listing has been found, users can proceed to make a purchase. Payment is typically made using cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin to ensure anonymity. After the payment is processed, buyers will receive the stolen credit card information via encrypted channels.
This big-time hacker and carder had a father with a lot of political juice that can protect him. The detective started chatting with Track2 over ICQ to learn more and he found out that Track2.name was where untrusted customers go to buy stolen cards. Then once you’re trusted or you pay a $1,000 registration fee, you can then be invited to Bulba.cc, a more elite carder site.
Step 4: Using the Stolen Credit Cards
After obtaining the stolen credit card information, buyers can choose to use it for fraudulent purchases or resell it to others. It is important to note that using stolen credit cards is a serious crime that can result in severe legal consequences.
How can criminals use your data on the dark web?
- If you’re connected to a public WiFi network, avoid making any purchases online while you’re connected to the network as this could place your financial data at risk.
- Although there’s a variety of goods to be purchased on the dark web, one of the most sold resources by volume on the dark web, if not the most sold commodity, is stolen credit cards.
- Sampling 10,000 random zip codes from our dataset, we have plotted the location of American cardholders.
- This process is known as “carding”, and it has become a key part of the cybercriminal’s playbook.
Conclusion
Buying stolen credit cards on the dark web is not only unethical but also illegal. Engaging in such activities puts both buyers and sellers at risk of facing criminal charges. It is important to always conduct oneself in an ethical and lawful manner when navigating the online world.
