I come from a country where most people don’t have a credit card.
I cannot wrap my head around [this](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=vmh3_nSR1jU) documentary.
Now I get that credit card fraud *is* a big problem.
But if all you need is the card number to order stuff, and card numbers are so easy to come by as shown in the documentary, then why is not every single criminal in the US running a credit card fraud operation?
It seems super easy and low risk. Get a burner device, order stuff from public wifi, and don’t be stupid about the delivery locations.
In: 548
While credit card fraud is a problem, it’s not overwhelming to banks.
Just like stores expect some shoplifting and include the costs of that in their prices, banks expect some fraud and include those costs in the fees they charge.
Banks also have lots of ways to detect fraud, and can often catch it before there are too many charges. They have algorithms that look for charges outside a customer’s normal area, at places they don’t normally shop, etc. When I’ve had a fraudulent charge, the bank itself has always been the one to catch it and call me.
Also, you need more than a credit card number to shop. In person, you need the card itself. If a store runs just the number off a piece of paper, they would be liable for the charges. Spoofing cards is harder, especially the new chip cards. Online, you typically need the security number from the back of the card and the billing address. You can buy full sets of stolen data, of course, but it’s harder than straight numbers.
As to why every criminal in America doesn’t take up credit card fraud, on the whole a lot of crime is opportunistic rather than carefully planned. Someone needs money *now*, so they smash a window or bump key a door, grab some stuff, and leave. Or rob someone in person. Credit card fraud takes start-up capital (to buy the devices and numbers), planning, and patience.
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