FRAUD SCENARIO LIBRARY

Compromised Cards

Compromised cards are debit or credit card credentials that have been stolen, leaked, or exposed - typically through data breaches, skimming, or phishing - and are later used for unauthorized transactions.

How Does Compromised Card Fraud Work?

Attackers steal card data via skimmers, malware, or compromised merchants.

Attackers steal card data via skimmers, malware, or compromised merchants.

Attackers steal card data via skimmers, malware, or compromised merchants.

Card details are sold or distributed on dark web marketplaces.

Fraudsters use the data for online purchases, ATM withdrawals, or synthetic identity creation.

Fraudsters use the data for online purchases, ATM withdrawals, or synthetic identity creation.

Compromised Card Fraud Detection

Uncovering Abuse Before It Escalates

An eCommerce platform begins receiving a wave of low-value purchases using different card numbers - but patterns emerge. Behind the scenes, Unit21 and Fingerprint reveal it’s not just random fraud, but an automated credential testing campaign.

1

Device Intelligence Detects Coordinated Device Behavior

Unit21‘s Device Intelligence flags identical device/browser signatures being used across hundreds of checkout sessions with different card numbers - classic signs of card testing.

2

Unit21 Rules Catch Velocity and BIN Anomalies

Custom rules in Unit21 fire based on rapid transaction attempts from a single IP, combined with unusual BIN usage and mismatched location metadata. Several cards are flagged as likely compromised.

3

Graph Analysis Uncovers Card Testing Network

Analysts use Unit21’s graph tooling to connect dozens of accounts with shared fingerprints, reused IPs, and overlapping email structures - indicating a coordinated campaign exploiting a recent breach.

4

Risk Score Escalation & Payment Blocking

Affected accounts are auto-reclassified with elevated risk. Unit21 freezes future high-risk transactions and alerts merchants to halt fulfillment before goods are shipped.

5

AI Agent Drafts SAR for Payment Fraud Typology

Using Unit21’s AI Agent, analysts generate a structured report highlighting card testing indicators, anonymizer usage, and suspicious account linkages. The SAR is filed directly via the platform with evidence intact.

Prevention Tips for Compromised Card Fraud

  • Integrate breach exposure feeds to block known compromised cards proactively.
  • Enforce CVV, AVS, and 3DS across all payment channels.
  • Use device fingerprinting and IP monitoring to detect credential stuffing attempts.
  • Monitor for abnormal velocity patterns and cross-channel fraud indicators.
  • Notify users and allow immediate card freezes if fraud is suspected.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Compromised Card Fraud

What makes compromised card fraud a widespread issue?
Why are compromised cards often used in automated attacks?
What types of damage do compromised card attacks cause?
What technical weaknesses enable compromised card fraud?
How do vendor shortcomings contribute to exposure?
How can organizations defend against compromised card fraud?
Why is early detection critical in these cases?
Why is early detection critical in these cases?
Why is early detection critical in these cases?

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