Carding: The discreet banking scam that empties your account

Carding follows a well-established process. It all begins with the theft of your banking information : card number , expiration date, cryptogram. This information can be stolen via fraudulent sites (phishing), spyware, or purchased on dark web forums.

Once the data is obtained, cybercriminals make very small transactions , often less than €1, to check that the card is still working. If the test goes undetected, the card can then be used to make larger purchases, or resold to other fraudsters.

This scheme is fast, discreet, and often undetectable at first. Some users only notice the scam after several days or weeks, once their bank account has been debited with large sums of money.

What are the risks to your bank account?

The main danger of carding is its stealth.

Fraudsters often make small, invisible withdrawals that go under users’ radar. If you’re not vigilant, your bank account can be gradually emptied without any immediate warning.

Another risk : if the hacked card is used on foreign or insecure platforms, the process of obtaining a refund may be longer, or even impossible.

Finally, a compromised card can be resold multiple times on the dark web , increasing the chances of multiple frauds in cascade, sometimes over several months.

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