What is card testing fraud? Why criminals make tiny payments first
By SendPay Business · · 2 min read
Card testing is when criminals take a list of stolen card numbers and try each one with a small payment on an online checkout. The cards that go through are then used, or sold, for bigger fraud. The business whose checkout was used is left with the fallout.
What merchants see
A sudden burst of small payments, often for the same tiny amount, many of them declined, from lots of different cards in a short time. Donation pages and cheap digital products are common targets because small amounts look normal there.
Why it hurts the business
Each attempt can carry a processing fee, successful payments often turn into chargebacks when the real cardholders notice, and a high chargeback ratio can put a merchant account at risk.
How to stop it
- Turn on 3D Secure so the real cardholder has to approve online payments.
- Add rate limits and a robot check to checkout and donation forms.
- Set a minimum payment amount where it makes sense.
- Watch for spikes in declines and act quickly.
Where SendPay fits
SendPay platforms include payment links and invoicing, powered by licensed partners. You set your own checks and limits for your customers, and SendPay tells you in writing what applies before you pay.
Build it
Create your own financial platform.
Pick a template, name it, brand it, preview every page before you pay. Your brand, your users, your fees.
Build my platform →Questions people ask
How close am I to my chargeback limit?
Work out your chargeback rate and what it costs.
Chargeback ratio calculator →Can I launch my own payments platform?
Yes, with payment links and invoicing built in.
See platforms →Read next
This guide is general information, not legal or financial advice. SendPay Business is a technology company, not a bank, and does not take deposits; regulated services on the platforms are provided by licensed partners. PayPal, Patreon and Substack are named as reference points only and are not affiliated with SendPay Business.