Brian's Club: The Dark Web's Infamous Carding Site

If you've ever heard of carding, you might be familiar with Brian's Club. The infamous dark web marketplace gained notoriety as a go-to destination for credit card fraudsters to buy and sell stolen data. In this article, we'll dive into the history of Brian's Club, its impact on the criminal underworld, and its eventual downfall.

Brian's Club was a dark web marketplace that specialized in selling stolen credit card information. It was named after its founder, who operated under the alias "Brian Krebs." Krebs was a well-known cybersecurity journalist who had previously written about the dark web and cybercrime. However, he was not involved in the creation or operation of Brian's Club.

The site was launched in 2015 and quickly gained popularity among carders (individuals who engage in credit card fraud) due to its large selection of high-quality card data. The site also boasted a sophisticated search function that allowed buyers to filter their searches by card type, bank, and location.

BriansClub operated similarly to other dark web marketplaces, with buyers and sellers conducting transactions using cryptocurrency. The site charged a commission fee of 25% on all sales, which was higher than other marketplaces but justified by the site's reputation for quality data.

The site also offered a VIP membership program that gave users access to even more exclusive data. However, this program was by invitation only and required a significant upfront payment.

In 2019, cybersecurity firm Gemini Advisory published a report detailing a massive data breach that had affected numerous online retailers. The report traced the source of the stolen data back to Brian's Club, which had been the primary seller of the stolen information.

The report caught the attention of law enforcement agencies, who began investigating Brian's Club and its members. In September 2019, the site suddenly went offline, and its users were left scrambling to find alternative sources of card data.

In October 2019, KrebsOnSecurity published an article revealing the true identity of Brian Krebs, the site's namesake. Krebs was a 34-year-old Romanian national named Vladislav Anatolievich Horohorin, who had been arrested in 2010 in France for credit card fraud. Horohorin was eventually extradited to the United States, where he was sentenced to 88 months in prison.

The takedown of Brian's Club was a significant blow to the carding community, which had relied on the site for its high-quality data. However, other dark web marketplaces quickly filled the void left by Brian's Club, and the carding industry continues to thrive to this day.

Law enforcement agencies around the world have been stepping up their efforts to combat carding and other forms of cybercrime. The Gemini Advisory report was a prime example of how private companies can play a crucial role in identifying and combating cybercrime.

Brian's Club was a dark web marketplace that specialized in selling stolen credit card information. The site gained notoriety for its high-quality data and sophisticated search function. However, its downfall in 2019 revealed the true identity of its founder and dealt a significant blow to the carding community. While the takedown of Brian's Club was a victory for law enforcement agencies, the carding industry continues to thrive on the dark web.