[naterator]

Is there a bright side to this, though? Doesn't this mean that the barrier to entry will increase for this kind of crime, and thus a smaller group of criminals will be able to perform it? Maybe that's small consolation, considering that only a handful need to do it to cause widespread havoc. Still. I hope this isn't all bad.

[nikcub]

You can now buy credit cards on some of the new underground markets that are replacing Silk Road.

Find the type of card you want, select how many you want ($5-20 each) and go through the checkout process, just like shopping on Amazon.

What happen is that there is now another tier of distribution - the bulk guys aren't selling directly to the public any more but there are people buying from them who are, and they are making it easy.

The bright side is that with chip+pin the horizon for dumps is short, but that leaves CVV's (card not present carding, used in online fraud).

[jnbiche]

Although I almost don't want to know the answer here, how are people usually paying for these cards? Is it Bitcoin?

I know Liberty Reserve was alleged to be popular among carders before. So has it all shifted to Bitcoin now that Liberty Reserve has been shut down?

[nikcub]

It is bitcoin almost everywhere in the underground now. It used to be "accept LR, WM, UK" (meaning liberty reserve, web money, ukash, etc.) on vendor forum posts but now the payment method isn't even mentioned since it is assumed to be bitcoin.

[jnbiche]

Thank you -- I was afraid of that.

[r0muald]

A smaller and increasingly skilled group of organized criminals. Not that good IMHO.