The Rise In Use Of Alternative Social Media Platforms For Illicit Activities

Understanding Credit Card Fraud On The Dark Web

Monitoring Deep And Dark Web For Stolen Credit Cards

Dark Web Stolen Credit Card Numbers: What You Need to Know

Tip Of The Iceberg: 6M Stolen Cards Analyzed

The dark web is a part of the internet that is intentionally hidden and is inaccessible through standard web browsers. It is often associated with illegal activities, including the sale of stolen credit card numbers.

According to the latest Nilson report from 2019, the cost of payment card fraud was $28 billion worldwide in 2019. Similarly, the Federal Trade Commission reports the majority of the fraud losses reported to them (a total of almost 2 billion Dollars) were due to credit card fraud, which tops their list of identity theft fraud. The analysis was based on data compiled in partnership with third-party cybersecurity researchers that the company didn’t identify.

How Credit Card Numbers Are Stolen

Credit card numbers can be stolen in a variety of ways, including:

• Data breaches of retailers and other businesses

Point-of-sale card skimmers, targeted Magecart attacks on websites and info-stealing trojans are among their top tools for stealing credit-card data. The dark web market is growing, with retailers selling stolen credit card data, cryptocurrency accounts, hacked Gmail and Twitter accounts, and purchasable malware for significantly cheaper prices over the past year. These are digital havens for cybercriminals to trade tactics, sell stolen data, and advertise their services.

• Phishing scams

Dating services have seen a surge in activity due to the pandemic, and are targeted by threat actors trying to gain access to PII available via online dating apps. Attackers buy drugs on darknet also compromise dating service accounts to launch romance scams. Illegal trading posts and marketplaces are constantly being closed by law enforcement agencies.

Indeed, in the last six months of 2020 alone, threat actors offered more than 45 million compromised cards for sale in underground credit-card markets monitored by security firm Cybersixgill, the company said in a report. These cards are then used by cybercriminals to make online purchases, including buying gift cards, that are hard to track back to them. Hundreds of millions of payment sites on the dark web card details have been stolen from online retailers, banks and payments companies before being sold for cryptocurrency on online marketplaces such as UniCC. These stolen cards have value because they can be used to purchase high-value items or gift cards, which can then be resold for cash. This process is known as “carding”, and it has become a key part of the cybercriminal’s playbook.

• Card skimming devices
• Malware and spyware

Once credit card numbers are stolen, they can be sold on the dark web to individuals who intend to use them for fraudulent purchases.

The Risks of Stolen Credit Card Numbers

Stolen credit card numbers can be used to make unauthorized purchases, open new accounts, and even take out loans in the victim’s name. This can result in significant financial loss and damage to the victim’s credit score.

In addition to financial loss, victims of credit card theft may also experience emotional distress and a loss of trust in financial institutions and online retailers.

Protecting Yourself from Credit Card Theft

• Credit card skimmers are devices that threat actors use to steal your credit card information.
• The Magecart group is one of the well-known crime groups that successfully attacked many websites, including British Airways and Ticketmaster, to collect payment card data along with PII.
• These cards are put up for sale in underground carding forums such as Joker’s Stash or in private chat channels, such as IRC channels or Telegram, along with other illicit services and goods.
• They operate in fields such as customer service, search engine optimization, and entertainment.

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from credit card theft, including:

• Monitoring your credit card statements regularly
• Setting up account alerts for unusual activity
• Using strong, unique passwords for all online accounts
• Being cautious of phishing scams
• Avoiding public Wi-Fi networks for financial transactions

If you believe that your credit card number has been stolen, contact your credit how to access darkweb card company immediately to report the fraud and have your card cancelled.

Conclusion

The dark web is a hotbed for illegal activities, including the sale of stolen credit card numbers. By taking steps