Carding refers to the illegal and fraudulent practice of using stolen credit card information to make unauthorized purchases or transactions online. Those who engage in carding are known as carders. They obtain credit card details, such as the card number, expiration date, and CVV/CVC code, through various means, including data breaches, phishing, skimming, or purchasing the information from underground markets on the dark web.

The process of carding typically involves the following steps:

1. Gathering card information: Carders acquire credit card data, including the card number, cardholder name, expiration date, and security code (CVV/CVC) from stolen databases or by purchasing them from illegal sources.
2. Validating the cards: Carders use various tools and techniques to check if the stolen card information is valid and active before using it for transactions.
3. Making unauthorized purchases: Once they have confirmed that the card details are valid, carders use the stolen information to make online purchases of goods or services. They may also use the information to fund their online accounts or buy gift cards for resale or laundering purposes.
4. Laundering money: Some carders employ money laundering techniques to convert the illicitly acquired goods or funds into untraceable or legitimate assets.