【 CARDING 】What is it and how does it work? + How to Detect ▷ 2022

Despite all the benefits that the Internet offers its users, the truth is that It also creates certain insecurities., due to the great mass of malicious Internet users that exist today. Reason why, money theft is one of the main concerns of users of digital payment services and credit cards.

In this sense, although these may be associated with secure methods, unfortunately, there are many possibilities that cybercriminals take advantage of to profit from the sensitive information of all its victims. Thence, carding is borna recognized term that refers to the theft of users’ credit card data.

Thus, it is a practice that is growing like foam thanks to the fact that it is implemented with the help of various methodologies. So, in order to avoid being a victim of carding, it is necessary to know what this scam method is about, how it can be detected, some tips to protect yourself from it and other aspects of interest.

What is carding and what is this scam method for?

Basically, carding can be defined as an online scam that consists of accessing the information of a bank card (both debit and credit), illegally and for profit. Thus, it describes the unauthorized use of any bank account or any financial information of a victim.

In other words, carding refers to the use of other people’s credit cards or the generation of new credit cards with the aim of making payments to distance purchase systems, mainly. So, ultimately, it can be said that it is a practice that has to do with any fraudulent activity associated with the banking information of a certain user.

Thus, once the malicious hacker obtains the required information, he proceeds to make illegal purchases or use malicious sites for the purpose of distribution. A) Yes, they focus on taking the money without the consent of the victim and, therefore, they cause the loss of patrimony.

In this sense, carding serves as a technological activity, by way of fraud, in which cybercriminals carry out a scam in order to acquire their own benefit at an economic and at the cost of hurting someone else’s savings. Taking into account that, victims are chosen randomly.

What are the main tools used by scammers for carding?

Although it is true, the hackers who are in charge of giving life to carding rely on some specific tools to achieve your goal in the simplest way. From which, they try not to give users clues about their theft.

But, before detailing which are the same, it should be noted that this digital fraud is implemented with the sponsorship of various methodologies to usurp credit card information, obtain financial data or any sensitive reference from the victim.

A) Yes, the most common tools are based on the , the and even on carding forums:

• Using the malware: Specifically, the carders they use malware such as rootkits, trojans and backdoors. Because, these are dangerous software that can be installed on the system without any prior permission and thus gain access to it easily. Thus, they gather the personal data necessary to steal money from bank accounts by taking screenshots of victims’ desktops as they access the Internet, and recording keystrokes.
• Through phishing: Deception through fake websites that pose as banks, universities, online stores or legitimate institutions, is also one of the most used tools by these scammers. As, so they can receive financial information from users more easilysince they achieve that they reveal their personal and financial data with complete confidence.
• Via carding forums: Cybercriminals can also resort to the famous carding forums to collect the necessary information from the victims. In view of that, are markets used to support illegal activities that are based on the exchange of information related to stolen bank cards.

In addition to that, scammers who use carding can count on certain algorithms that are capable of determining credit card numbers and they can also be in charge of extracting the number of your correspondence, photographing it when paying in an establishment or through email (by ).

Even these technological frauds occur via telephone using social engineering which, basically, uses unconscious verbal mechanisms to convince another to do something reprehensible and thus, the user will provide his credit card number naively.

Detecting carding What are the clearest signs?

As carding has become a potential digital scam, nowadays, it is important for all netizens to stay alert and aware. What are the clearest signs to be able to detect this fraud easily?.

Therefore, below, we mention these signs so that you always keep them in mind:

• If you receive an email from an unknown user that you have not contacted before, this can be really suspicious. Especially, if it is a request for payment or that requires some personal data.
• If you access a website and you notice something strange in his direction it is possible that the platform is supporting phishing to trap its users.
• If you notice that your computer system is heavier and, sometimes, it makes unusual movements, it is a sign that some malware has been installed in said system and is capturing sensitive information.
• If you check the movements of your credit card and, through some tracking carried out with the help of the bank, you manage to verify that illegal purchases have been made with the samethis is the biggest key to verify that you have been a victim of dangerous carding.

Tips to protect ourselves from carding and avoid unauthorized use of our credit cards

As you will have seen throughout the post, scammers deceive their victims using different tactics with which they manage to obtain information about their credit cards, credentials and personal data, in order to obtain the amount of money they want to steal.

So, It is essential to follow the following recommendations and avoid usurping your bank accounts without prior notice:

• Do not provide your credit card details (number, security code and expiration date) by email or by phone, unless you are making a purchase with a reliable company. In this way, you will better protect your banking information.
• Avoid using illegal websites, malicious forums, or suspicious Facebook pages. As, these are the main focuses of the carders to choose their victims.
• Install a trusted one on your computerin order to avoid the implementation of any program or application used to snoop on your activity on the Internet and capture sensitive information.
• It is also relevant that update your programs (including security ones) in order to prevent vulnerabilities and that these do not function as holes to install new malware that will control and steal your personal data.
• When you apply for your credit card and receive it at home, Check that the envelope is completely closed and does not show signs of having been checked. Otherwise, it is best to notify the bank and return that card.
• If, for whatever reason, you are going to stop using your credit card, we recommend you cut it into several pieces until destroying the chip and the magnetic stripe in its entirety. Once this is done, dispose of those pieces in different trash cans.
• Do not forget to activate movement alerts in your bank accountin order to be aware of everything that happens with it.

What should I do if I detect that my credit card is being carded?

In case you discover that some digital scammer has deciphered your credit card credentials and is carding with it, the best thing to do is notify the bank to which it belongs and immediately cancel the card. Since, only in this way, you will be able to avoid a greater scam or certain much more delicate legal problems that affect your integrity.

On the other hand, thanks to certain digital innovations that are yet to come, it is expected that some payment methods could make any fraud or scam such as carding practically impossible. A clear example of this is the Apple credit card that, so far, is not available.

In view of the fact that it will not have printed information that can be used by cybercriminals to make illegal purchases and well, the physical card will be necessary to be able to make the payments. Therefore, another way to eradicate carding is to focus on make purchases in physical stores, solely and exclusively. Since, this way you can stop being a potential victim for all the carders that operate on the network today.