www.antena3.ro/economic/pericolul-cardurilor-banca

Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst have identified a serious vulnerability in payment systems that allows expired credit cards to be used for unauthorized purchases. This phenomenon, termed "zombie credit cards," challenges the belief that expired cards are automatically unusable. The study reveals that fraudsters can exploit this vulnerability by manipulating expiration dates during transactions. The issue arises from the banking infrastructure, where the expiration of a physical card does not necessarily close the associated bank account. Tests conducted in real-world settings confirmed the exploitability of this vulnerability across various payment terminals. Experts warn that users should not assume expired cards are safe and recommend proper destruction of old cards to prevent unauthorized use.