Security researchers recently uncovered one of the largest credit card theft operations in recent years, involving the sophisticated Phishing-as-a-Service (PhaaS) platform “Darcula.” This operation has stolen around 884,000 credit card details through a large-scale campaign that generated over 13 million clicks. The scam targeted consumers in 32 countries, with the highest number of victims in North America and Europe. Experts estimate that the total financial damage from the stolen data could exceed $150 million based on current dark web values.
Darcula is unique due to its advanced infrastructure and subscription-based model, which enables even low-skilled cybercriminals to launch sophisticated attacks.
The platform provides customers with realistic replicas of banking sites, e-commerce platforms, and payment portals, including SSL certificates and domains designed to evade detection. Most concerning is Darcula’s ability to bypass multi-factor authentication using real-time session hijacking, allowing attackers to steal authentication codes during the login process.
The operation used a multi-channel approach to spread malicious links, including email, SMS, social media, and compromised ads. Victims typically received urgent messages claiming issues with their accounts and were directed to fraudulent websites where their credentials were stolen. Mnemonic analysts discovered the campaign in February 2025, tracing it back to a well-organized cybercriminal syndicate with infrastructure spanning Eastern Europe and Southeast Asia. The Darcula operation’s modular design allows it to continuously evolve and evade detection.
The theft mechanism is highly advanced, involving a multi-stage payload system to avoid security solutions.
Initially, the attack begins with JavaScript code on fake payment pages that secretly collects and exfiltrates sensitive information. The data is transmitted through multiple proxies to Darcula’s secure storage, making it difficult for law enforcement to attribute the operation. Financial institutions and cybersecurity companies are working together to combat the threat, urging organizations to implement advanced phishing detection and training, while individuals are advised to verify website authenticity and enable transaction notifications.
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