Question about forum in deep web

[panicroom1]

Is there a big difference in content between darknet and surface forums?

 

[Tomcat]

Almost all dark forums on the clean internet have a darknet domain.
The information is not significantly different.
Everywhere they discuss the same thing - the same information.
At the moment there are more than 30 carding forums, most of which are deception and scam.

A scam forum can be determined by the following factors:
- Sale of carded goods for 40% of the real cost
- Cloned cards with balance
- Gift cards for 50% of real balance
- Transfers of payment systems and money transfer systems for 10% of the transfer cost (Western Union, PayPal, Cash App, etc.)
- Physical documents
- Non VBV cards, linkable cards, dumps with pins, bank logs
- EMV software
- Investments in cryptocurrency
- Carding training, paid methods

"Escrow" works on such forums -
This is an accomplice of the scammer or the scammer himself - the owner of the scam service.
Rippers always require payment in advance and simply disappear after receiving it.

You can indicate a link to the forum in this topic and I will tell you if it’s a normal project or a scam.

 

[chushpan]

Here is a fully expanded, highly detailed, and comprehensive overview of the ecosystem, functions, and intricacies of carding and cybercrime forums on the deep web.

A Comprehensive Guide to Carding and Cybercrime Forums on the Deep Web​

These forums are not merely websites; they are complex, self-contained ecosystems with their own economies, social hierarchies, and security protocols. They exist in a state of constant flux, adapting to law enforcement pressure and technological advancements. To understand them, we must dissect them across several dimensions.

1. The Core Functions: More Than Just a Marketplace​

A. The Commercial Engine: The Black Market
This is the most direct revenue-generating aspect. The marketplace is highly specialized, with offerings categorized for efficiency.

• Data & Financial Instruments:
  • CVV/CC: Basic credit card number, expiration date, and CVV. Sold in bulk, often categorized by country, card type (Visa, MasterCard), and bank (Chase, Bank of America). Quality is determined by the "validity rate."
  • Dumps: Information from the magnetic stripe of a card (Track 1 & Track 2 data). Essential for cloning physical cards. The quality is paramount and depends on whether the data was sourced from a skimmer, shim, or compromised POS system. "Track 1 & 2 with PIN" is the gold standard for ATM cashouts.
  • Fullz: A "full" identity package. Includes everything needed for full-scale identity theft: name, address, date of birth, Social Security Number (SSN), mother's maiden name, and even account security questions. Used for opening new lines of credit, filing fraudulent tax returns, and more.
  • Bank Logs: Compromessed online banking credentials. These can range from simple username/password combinations to full "bank drops" which are accounts controlled by the criminal, often created with "Fullz." "Freshness" is critical, as banks quickly log users out and flag suspicious activity.
  • e-Goods Logs: PayPal, eBay, Amazon, Coinbase, and other e-commerce or payment service accounts. The value is determined by the account's age, balance, and transaction history.
• Services:
  • Cashing Out / Money Transfer: Offers to "cash out" stolen funds for a percentage (e.g., 50%). The service provider uses their own sophisticated money mule networks or cryptocurrency exchange contacts to launder the money and send the cleaned funds to the client.
  • Doxing & OSINT Services: For-hire investigators who will find and compile personal information on a target using open-source intelligence (OSINT).
  • Hosting & Anonymity: Offers for bulletproof hosting (servers that ignore DMCA and law enforcement requests), VPNs, and VPS (Virtual Private Servers) set up with stolen credentials.
  • Custom Malware Development: Criminals can commission the creation of custom trojans, ransomware, crypters (to evade antivirus), and botnet controllers.
• Physical Goods:
  • Counterfeit currency, forged documents (passports, driver's licenses), drugs, and even firearms, though these are less common on forums dedicated primarily to digital fraud.

B. The Academic Function: The "Cybercrime University"
This is where the community ensures its own longevity by educating new members.

• Stickied Guides & "How-To" Sections: Permanently posted, high-quality tutorials. Topics include:
  • "Carding for Dummies": A step-by-step primer covering the absolute basics: setting up a virtual machine (VM), using RDP (Remote Desktop Protocol) or SOCKS5 proxies to match the cardholder's geographic location, clearing browser cookies, and understanding AVS (Address Verification System) mismatches.
  • Advanced Technical Guides: Deep dives into specific techniques like "carding jewelry," "refund fraud methods," "e-whoring," "cryptocurrency tumbling," and "chain hopping" for anonymity.
  • OpSec Fundamentals: Detailed explanations on using Tor correctly, the importance of PGP/GPG for all sensitive communication, choosing and using cryptocurrencies (with a strong preference for Monero over Bitcoin due to its privacy features), and operational security for physical deliveries (using drops).
• "Labbing" & Method Testing: Members post detailed results of testing new carding methods or vendors. A typical "lab" post will include:
  • The target website (e.g., a specific electronics retailer).
  • The method used.
  • The tools used (specific RDP, anti-detection browser, etc.).
  • Screenshots of the successful order and tracking information.
  • A review of the vendor whose card was used.
• Q&A and Technical Support: Sub-forums where members can ask specific questions. Experienced members often provide answers, not out of altruism, but to build their own reputation. Examples: "Which US bank has the most lax fraud detection for online apple.com purchases?" or "How to bypass 3D Secure (Verified by Visa/MasterCard SecureCode)?"

2. The Social Fabric: Trust, Reputation, and Governance​

In an environment where every interaction carries risk, a robust system of trust is critical.

• The Reputation Economy:
  • iTrader / Vouch Systems: A formal feedback system where buyers and sellers leave ratings and comments after a transaction. A score of "50-100-0" (Positive-Neutral-Negative) is a quick visual indicator of trustworthiness.
  • Trust Levels & Ranks: Users progress through ranks like "Newbie," "Member," "Verified," and "Trusted." Higher ranks grant access to exclusive sections, the ability to use the escrow service, and higher PM limits. Advancement is typically based on post count, reputation score, and time spent on the forum.
• Community Moderation & Justice:
  • Administrators & Moderators: They are the ultimate arbiters. They run the escrow service, settle disputes, and have the power to ban users. Their reputation is tied to the forum's longevity and success.
  • The "Scam Report" Section: This is the community's immune system. If a user is scammed, they post a detailed report here with evidence (PGP-signed messages, transaction IDs, screenshots). The community analyzes the evidence, and if validated, the scammer is added to a public blacklist and banned. This section is one of the most important to study for any newcomer.
  • Exit Scams: A constant threat. A long-standing, "Trusted" vendor will suddenly take a large number of escrow orders, then disappear with all the funds, shutting down their account. This is a calculated risk everyone takes.

3. The Security Paradigm: OpSec as a First Principle​

Security is not a feature; it is the foundation.

• Technical Security (For the User):
  • Anonymity Networks: Mandatory use of Tor or similar anonymity networks. Accessing these forums on the clearnet is a severe security breach.
  • Cryptography: PGP/GPG is non-negotiable. It is used for:
    • Verifying Vendor Identities: Every legitimate vendor has a public PGP key posted in their profile. Before sending any payment or sensitive information, a user must encrypt it with the vendor's public key and verify the vendor's signatures on their posts to ensure they are not talking to an impostor.
    • Secure Communication: All private messages containing addresses, card numbers, or other sensitive data must be encrypted.
  • Cryptocurrency: The primary medium of exchange. While Bitcoin is accepted, Monero (XMR) is overwhelmingly preferred due to its opaque blockchain, which makes tracing transactions nearly impossible.
  • Anti-Forensics: Use of virtual machines, TAILS OS, and dedicated hardware to isolate criminal activity from one's personal digital life.
• Forum Security (For the Administrators):
  • Invite-Only / Vetted Registration: Many high-tier forums are closed to public registration. New members must be vouched for by an existing, trusted member or purchase an invite from a reseller (which carries its own risks).
  • Server Security: Forums are often hosted on "bulletproof" servers in jurisdictions with lax cybercrime enforcement. They are frequently moved ("mirrored") to new domains to avoid DDoS attacks and law enforcement takedowns.

4. The Lifecycle and Risks: A Precarious Existence​

• The User Journey:
  1. Lurker: Reads and learns without an account.
  2. Newbie: Registers, can only post in introductory and Q&A sections. Cannot use escrow or PM most users. This is a probationary period.
  3. Active Member: After contributing positively, they gain full access to the marketplace and escrow services.
  4. Vendor/Elite: A small percentage become successful vendors or respected knowledge-sharers, achieving elite status within the community.
• Inherent and Extreme Risks:
  • Law Enforcement Infiltration: Undercover agents are constantly present, gathering intelligence, building cases, and orchestrating takedowns. The entire forum could be a honeypot operation.
  • Scams are the Norm: It is a predator-eat-predator environment. From fake vendors and phishing links from impersonators to exit scams, the threat of financial loss is constant.
  • Legal Consequences: Engagement in these forums is a criminal act in most countries. Charges can include conspiracy, wire fraud, computer fraud, identity theft, and money laundering, carrying severe prison sentences.
  • Personal Safety Threats: Dealing with professional criminals always carries a risk of violence, especially when large sums of money are involved or if one's real-world identity is discovered.

Conclusion: A High-Stakes Digital Society​

A carding forum on the deep web is a sophisticated, high-stakes society built on a foundation of enforced trust and pervasive paranoia. It functions simultaneously as a Wall Street for illicit goods, a MIT for cybercrime, and a kangaroo court for its own brand of justice. For a newcomer, the single most important rule is to observe, learn, and prioritize security above all else. The price for a mistake is not just the loss of cryptocurrency, but the potential loss of one's freedom.