Darknet Diaries 164: Oak Cliff Swipers
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Oct 7, 2025 Nathan Michael, former leader of the Oak Cliff Swipers, shares his thrilling journey from small-time swindler to head of a major credit-card fraud ring. He describes using skimmers at gas pumps and collaborating with insiders for a sophisticated carding scheme. Nathan recounts the intense raid that led to his arrest and his subsequent time in prison, where he faced the challenges of addiction and rehabilitation. Now, he aims to transform his past experiences into a force for good, helping others avoid the mistakes he made.
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From Game Gold To Real Fraud
- Nathan learned fraud via gaming economies and PayPal chargebacks, which led him into online theft and selling stolen in-game assets.
- That early pivot from victim to scammer set the pattern for larger carding schemes later.
Manual Entry Trick At Walmart
- Nathan's mother-in-law suggested using a demagnetized blank card with many printed numbers so the cashier would manually key numbers until one worked.
- They used these hits to buy large quantities of gift cards and resell them for cash.
Skimmers On Pumps And Bluetooth Dumps
- Nathan bought skimmers, installed them on gas pumps and ATMs, and collected track data remotely via Bluetooth.
- He later decoded that track data into usable cards and called some of them 'bangers' because fresh skims hit reliably.