The global market for stolen credit cards has seen an increase in prices, with increases of up to 444% in the average sales price in some countries over the last two years, according to a report from NordVPN.
This phenomenon, driven by the dynamics of supply and demand on the dark web, has placed the United States, Singapore and Spain as the countries most affected by this type of fraud in 2025.
The study reveals that the United States concentrates 60% of compromised cards worldwidewhich positions it as the main target of cybercriminals. Singapore is in second place with 11% of stolen cards, while Spain is in third position, with 10% of the total.
In the Spanish case, not only the volume of stolen cards stands out, but also the price they fetch in the clandestine market: 11.68 dollars (around 10 euros) per unit, the highest value in Europe.
The process of obtaining and marketing these bank details involves the use of fraudulent techniques to access sensitive information such as card numbers, names, addresses and emails.
This data allows criminals to bypass verification systems and impersonate legitimate owners. Once obtained, the cards are sold in large batches and tend to remain valid for long periods, making them easy to use to commit fraud, access other accounts or withdraw funds from third parties.
The NordVPN report highlights that, despite the increase in the number of stolen cards, sales prices have not decreased. In fact, the most expensive cards come from Japan, with an average price of $23, followed by those from Kazakhstan, Guam and Mozambique, which sell for $16.
In contrast, in Europe the average price is around $8, although Spanish cards far exceed that figure. France and Portugal follow Spain in the European rankingwith prices of $11.07 and $9.26 respectively.
At the opposite extreme, the cheapest stolen cards come from the Republic of the Congo, Barbados and Georgia, where they sell for as little as $1.
The price increase has been pronounced in some countries. In Spain, the average value of stolen cards has increased by 73.6% compared to 2023, when it stood at $6.73. New Zealand leads the list of increases, with an increase of 444%, followed by Argentina (368%) and Poland (221%).
According to NordVPN, these variations respond to the relationship between supply and demand, as well as the rigor of anti-fraud controls. Criminals are willing to pay more for cards from countries where supply is limited and security measures are stricter, such as Japan.
In saturated markets such as the United States or Spain, the individual price decreases because the cards are usually sold in packages.
According to Europa Press, NordVPN cybersecurity expert Adrianus Warmenhoven stated that factors such as political stability and the actions of security forces also affect the risk and price of stolen cards.
Furthermore, the expiration date is decisive: Cards with distant maturities have greater value. In fact, 87% of the cards analyzed can be used for more than 12 months, which increases their attractiveness for buyers.
Regarding protection against this type of crimesthe specialist suggested frequently reviewing the status of accounts and checking banking and card activity at least once a week.
Likewise, he advised activating real-time transaction alert notifications to detect suspicious charges, as well as using secure, complex passwords, especially in online stores.
