Hackers and carding Complete guide by Blackhat Pakistan 2023
Today we will learn about Hackers and carding in this article.
The process of stealing and using payment card information for monetary gain, known as carding, is a major cause of consumer financial loss. This usually involves the theft of card security codes (also called CSC or CVV numbers), which are then resold on the web or used to purchase products that can be sold for cash.
Merchants are affected by counterfeit transactions just as much as consumers. Illegal payments cause lost inventory, chargebacks, and damage to the victim’s reputation, all of which can seriously damage a retailer’s business.
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Hackers and carding
In this article, we will talk about the carding process in detail. After reading this article, you will know more about:
- How carding works
- Different methods used for carding
What you can do to protect yourself from carding
Let’s get started.
What is carding and carding business?
In general, the term “carding” is used to describe the theft of credit or debit cards that are then used to purchase goods and services. However, the term has evolved in recent years to encompass a range of malicious acts involving the unauthorized use of payment cards, such as online auction fraud, writing off stolen account numbers, resending and phishing. Adversaries involved in carding schemes are known as “carders”.
Carders are active participants in websites known as card forums. Most card forums make it easy to sell stolen identities, compromised credit card numbers, and fake logins. A popular example is the club2crd forum where sellers post copies of credit card numbers, checks and even bank statements. Karting forums also help their members by giving them access to resources such as:
- URLs for carding tools and downloadable code to help you break into websites
- Tutorials for different types of practices related to carding
- Source code for phishing landing pages
- Private message threads allowing members to buy and sell compromised account information with peace of mind
- Bidding systems for full information (see below)
“Full Info” or simply “Full” is a card product that contains a package of victim information including phone number, address, credit and debit card PIN and associated account number, social security number, mother’s maiden name, credit history report. and other personally identifiable information.
To verify the authenticity of stolen card numbers, cardholders often visit an e-commerce website and initiate multiple transactions. Cards that complete the required transactions are listed for sale, along with any compromised personal information, on card forums or the black market. Scammers will eventually use the stolen credentials to purchase store-branded gift cards, which are then used to purchase goods such as smartphones, televisions, and game consoles.
What are the different carding methods?
Carding in many cases does not involve the acquisition of physical payment cards, but only their information. Here are some smart ways cardholders can get your credit or debit card information:
Phishing: Cards with phishing skills target the less secure systems of individual cardholders. Details are at risk, for example, by infecting computers with key mining viruses and other types of malware
Skimming: Some thieves use a small device to capture victims’ credit card information in what is believed to be a legitimate transaction. They secretly place skimmers in ATMs and gas stations and then return to collect the captured details
Impersonation: Adversaries have even been known to solicit information directly from cardholders by impersonating employees of banks and other financial institutions.
In addition, cardholders can buy card data in bulk from hacking groups that possess large amounts of payment card information.
Once carders have gathered the information, they use a computer or mobile device to perform the actual carding process. Both devices rely on the following key elements to help cards make fraudulent transactions.
- Computer/mobile device
- SOCKS (SOCKET Secure)
- Mac Address Changer
- CCleaner
- RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol)
- DECREASE
- Credit card
Here you can learn more about each key point and how carding works on each device.
To avoid detection, adversaries who purchase gift cards online will have them sent to an email address other than their own. The gift cards are then used to purchase goods under the name of a third party. The final goods are also shipped to a third party address in most cases.
How to protect yourself from carding
The best way to minimize your chances of becoming a victim of skimming is to remain vigilant when using your credit or debit card. Now let’s go over some simple but effective tips to protect yourself from credit card theft.
- Do not provide your credit or debit card information
Share only your credit card number and other sensitive information during calls. When you also contact the customer service department of your credit or debit card issuer, please contact us using the helpline number on the back of your card. Do not return calls to a number sent to you via text message or email. It’s hard to be sure that a hacker hasn’t left you a illegitimate number to contact. - Check the one-time card numbers
Ask your card issuer if they offer single-use or “disposal” card numbers. These will still be linked to your account, but will expire after one use, so they can only be used at one merchant. Issuers offering this option will allow you to request a new number via a mobile access code. - Analyze ATMs for signs of skimming
This means all ATMs, even the ones at your bank. You should also be on the lookout for card swipers, such as those often found at gas stations, especially if you have a debit card. If the scanner does not match the appearance and behavior of the device, it may be a skimmer. Give the card scanner a little shake to see if that means something is connected to the device’s card reader.
Online merchants can also take a number of measures to prevent carding. For example, they may ask customers for an Address Verification Service (AVS) code. It will inform them if the address shown on the checkout page actually matches the cardholder’s address. They can also add reCAPTCHA technology to ensure that every action is performed by a human and not an automated script or bot.
Finally, they may consider setting a minimum transaction amount above $20. This is because most card companies initiate transactions between $5 and $15.
Conclusion
While carding is unlikely to decrease anytime soon, maintaining your vigilance will prevent you from becoming a victim. Be on the lookout for any suspicious calls and always check ATMs for card readers as it’s always better to be safe than sorry.
