
Dumps credit cards are a type of stolen credit card information used for fraudulent transactions.
These stolen credit cards are often obtained through data breaches or phishing scams.
Dumps credit cards contain sensitive information such as the card number, expiration date, and security code.
This information is then used to create counterfeit cards or make online purchases.
Dumps credit cards can lead to significant financial losses for individuals and businesses.
In 2020, the average cost of a data breach was $3.86 million, according to a study by IBM.
Dumps credit cards can also damage a person's credit score and reputation.
To prevent dumps credit cards, individuals should be cautious when providing credit card information online or in public.
They should also regularly monitor their credit card statements for suspicious activity.
What are Dumps Credit Cards?
A credit card dump is a type of crime where a criminal makes an unauthorized digital copy of a credit card.
This type of crime has been around for decades, but it's gained wider public awareness in recent years due to the rise in credit card forgeries, identity theft, and other types of cybercrime.
A credit card dump is essentially a digital copy of your credit card information, which can be used for malicious purposes.
Definition
A credit card dump is essentially the data found in the magnetic stripe of a credit card. This information includes the card holder's name, card number, expiration date, billing address, and phone number.
Using a credit card dump, criminals can create a physical copy of an active credit card. Each card can sell for between $20 to $100, according to Business Week and the New York Times.
What is a Card?
A credit card is a physical or digital payment card issued to a cardholder by a financial institution, typically with a magnetic stripe or chip containing the cardholder's account information.
This type of card has been around for decades, with the first credit cards emerging in the 1950s.
Credit cards are designed to facilitate easy and secure transactions, but they can also be vulnerable to unauthorized use.
A credit card typically has the cardholder's name, card number, expiration date, and security code printed on it.
Credit card forgeries and identity theft have become more prevalent in recent years, making it essential to be aware of the risks associated with credit cards.
What Was the First?

The first large-scale credit card dump is often attributed to 1984, when the New York Times reported that the password for a leading credit union, TRW, was stolen from a Sears store on the West Coast.
This password unlocked the credit histories and personal information of many Sears customers, which were subsequently used to obtain their credit card numbers.
Card theft, scams, and black markets for personal IDs have been around since the advent of credit cards in the 1960s and '70s.
Impact and Risks
The credit card dump industry poses a significant threat to the American financial industry, with unauthorized use affecting about 10 million Americans each year.
This results in a staggering loss of $5 billion to consumers and $48 billion to businesses annually.
The underground markets value credit cards and bank accounts at a staggering $7 billion, according to Symantec's 2008 estimate.
Impact
The impact of credit card dump industry is staggering. Unauthorized use of credit cards affects about 10 million Americans every year.

The financial burden is immense, resulting in a loss of $5 billion to consumers annually. This translates to a huge financial hit for individuals who have fallen victim to credit card theft.
The credit card dump industry presents a significant threat to the American financial industry, with Symantec estimating the value of stolen credit cards and bank accounts in the underground markets to be around $7 billion in 2008.
Legal Consequences of Fraud
Engaging in credit card fraud can lead to severe legal consequences. Criminal charges such as identity theft, fraud, or computer crimes can result in imprisonment, fines, probation, or a combination of these penalties.
A conviction for credit card fraud can have long-term consequences, including difficulty finding employment or obtaining credit in the future. It can also tarnish an individual's reputation and personal relationships.
Individuals involved in credit card fraud can face civil lawsuits from the victims, resulting in substantial financial damages and legal fees.
Dark Web PIN
The dark web is a hidden part of the internet that allows Credit Card Dumps with PIN to be bought and sold.
It's a marketplace where sellers offer a range of Credit Card Dumps for sale, often including details like the card's balance and country of origin.
Transactions are conducted anonymously and encrypted, making it difficult for law enforcement to track down the criminals involved.
The dark web operates similarly to legitimate e-commerce platforms, with buyers browsing through listings and selecting cards to purchase using cryptocurrency or other anonymous payment methods.
This anonymity provides a sense of security for both buyers and sellers, but it also makes it challenging for authorities to crack down on credit card dumps fraud.
Despite efforts from Cybersecurity experts and law enforcement agencies, the dark web continues to thrive, providing a safe haven for illegal activities.
What Was the Largest Hack?
The largest hack to date is a sobering reminder of the risks we face online. The Equifax hack in 2017 exposed personal data of more than 147 million customers, including credit card details.

This hack was a massive breach of customer trust, and it's a stark example of the devastating consequences of a data breach. It's a wake-up call for all of us to be more vigilant about our online security.
The Equifax hack was a particularly egregious incident, as it compromised sensitive information that could be used for identity theft and financial fraud.
How Dumps Credit Cards Work
Credit card dumps can occur through various methods, including skimming, where an illegal card reader copies data from a credit card, often hidden in a legitimate ATM or gas station pump.
Hackers can also obtain large numbers of card numbers at once by compromising the computer systems of companies handling customer credit card information, such as by infecting point-of-sale devices.
To make this theft more difficult, measures like personal information numbers (PINs) and security chips have been implemented, but hackers continue to find new ways to exploit weaknesses in the electronic payments system.
Cybercriminals resell the credit card information on the black market or use it themselves to make unauthorized online purchases using stolen credit cards.
Here are some examples of major data breaches:
- CNN: 100 million Capital One credit cards were accessed by a hacker.
- Codeburst.io: Canva's security breach was decrypted.
- CSO: The 15 biggest data breaches of the 21st century were documented.
- Federal Trade Commission: Equifax's data breach settlement was announced.
- New York Times: A credit file password was stolen.
How They Work
Credit card dumps are essentially stolen or counterfeit credit cards that contain the data extracted from legitimate cards.
These cards are then sold in online marketplaces, providing criminals with an easy way to make illicit purchases while concealing their tracks. The process begins with the theft or purchase of credit card information, which includes the cardholder’s name, credit card number, expiration date, and CVV code.
This stolen information is then encoded onto a blank card, creating a clone of the original card. Credit card dumps with PIN can be acquired through various means, including data breaches, skimming devices, and phishing scams.
Criminals may use credit card dumps to make high-value purchases, such as luxury goods or electronics, as these items can be easily resold for a profit. The anonymity provided by these cards makes it challenging for law enforcement agencies to trace the transactions back to the criminals.
Here are some common methods used to obtain credit card information:
- Skimming: an illegal card reader, sometimes hidden in a legitimate ATM or gas station pump, copies the data from a credit card.
- Data breaches: cybercriminals access a company's computer systems to obtain a large number of card numbers at once.
- Phishing scams: criminals trick individuals into providing their credit card information.
The stolen information is then used to make unauthorized online purchases using stolen credit cards, or resold on the black market.
Repeat Strategy
Carder markets have a history of dumping credit card details to create interest in their services, a tactic known as the "Repeat Strategy".
This isn't a new approach, and it's been used before to seize the empty spot left by a major player in the market, like Joker's Stash.
In June 2022, BidenCash dumped details for nearly 8 million credit cards, and in October 2022, it leaked for free the details of 1.2 million cards, with half of them issued by U.S. banks.
AllWorld.Cards took a similar approach in August 2021, leaking details for more than 1 million cards obtained from 2018 to 2019.
The goal of this strategy is to create a huge void in the underground marketplace, making room for new shops to emerge and fill the demand for compromised payment cards.

Multiple new shops, including BidenCash, appeared after UniCC, the initial new market leader, fell to a Russian crackdown in January 2022.
Moscow also shuttered Ferum Shop, Sky-Fraud, and Trump's Dumps, aka TDStore, further disrupting the market.
This created a huge void in the underground marketplace, making it an ideal time for new shops to enter the market and capitalize on the demand for compromised payment cards.
Examples and Statistics
Capital One, the fifth-largest credit card issuer in the United States, revealed in July 2019 that a hacker accessed the personal information of around 106 million customers and applicants in the U.S. and Canada.
The Capital One hack is the second-largest data dump of all time, and it's a stark reminder of the risks associated with credit card data breaches. In this case, the information accessed included highly personal details on consumers and small businesses, including names, social security numbers, income, and dates of birth as of the time they applied for one of several credit card products from 2005 through early 2019.
In May 2019, nearly 140 million user accounts were compromised when the popular Australian graphic design website, Canva, was breached by hackers. They managed to access users' credit card information, as well as personal details such as names, usernames, and email addresses.
Adobe lost nearly 3 million customer credit card records in a large-scale attack by hackers in October 2013. This breach was part of a larger effort that saw data from over 150 million users stolen, and the company ultimately reached a roughly $1 million settlement with its customers over the incident.
Avoiding Scams and Staying Safe
If you know about a security breach, contact your credit card issuer right away to put a freeze on your account and cancel & replace your cards.
You can also use virtual credit card numbers for online shopping, which can't be used again for subsequent purchases.
It's essential to keep your credit card information private and not share it with others.
Regularly review your credit card statements for any unfamiliar transactions.
When in public, keep your credit cards close at hand and be aware of your surroundings.
Check for any suspicious objects on or around ATMs, gas pumps, and POS machines.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I safely dispose of old credit cards?
To safely dispose of old credit cards, cut the EMV chip and card into small pieces, then dispose of them in multiple trash bags or use a paper shredder designed for plastic cards. Proper disposal helps protect your identity and prevent card skimming.
What is credit card flipping?
Credit card flipping is the practice of applying for multiple credit cards to earn sign-up bonuses, then closing or switching them, which can impact your credit score. However, many card issuers have implemented rules to prevent this strategy, making it less effective.
Is it best to get rid of unused credit cards?
Yes, it's best to close unused credit cards to protect against identity theft and maintain a healthy credit score
Sources
- https://www.sapling.com/8205487/credit-card-dump
- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/credit-card-dump.asp
- https://www.bankinfosecurity.com/blogs/publicity-stunt-criminals-dump-2-million-free-payment-cards-p-3408
- https://medium.com/@scottmartin9900/demystifying-credit-card-dumps-understanding-the-dark-world-of-fraudulent-payment-methods-3bacde7fe0d8
- https://www.zdnet.com/article/credit-card-details-worth-nearly-3-5-million-put-up-for-sale-on-hacking-forum/
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