How Attackers Try to Bypass 3DS and OTP - And Why It’s So Hard 🤖
3D-Secure (3DS) - used by Visa, Mastercard, Amex - adds a critical layer of security for online card payments, often involving a one-time password (OTP). Since 3DS 2.0 and PSD2 regulations came into effect, bypassing it has become very difficult. But attackers still try.
👍 What is 3D-Secure and OTP?
3DS adds Strong Customer Authentication (SCA) by requiring two of three elements:
👍 Knowledge: Password or PIN
👍 Possession: Device (phone, banking app)
👍 Inherence: Biometrics (fingerprint, face ID)
OTP codes are temporary codes (via SMS, email, or app) confirming transactions. Banks use Risk-Based Authentication (RBA) - evaluating IP, device, transaction amount - to decide if OTP is needed.
Why bypassing is tough: OTPs tie to specific devices/contact info; anti-fraud tools analyze multiple signals; PSD2 mandates 3DS in Europe.
👍 Attack Techniques & Why They Fail
👍 Non-VBV / Auto-VBV Bins
Attackers seek card numbers (bins) that skip or auto-pass 3DS without OTP.
👍 Works only for low-risk or outside PSD2 zones.
👍 Banks and anti-fraud tools block suspicious IPs or high-risk transactions.
👍 Social Engineering for OTP
Phishing, fake calls, or SIM swap to steal OTPs.
👍 Banks use two-factor resets, suspicious activity alerts, and SMS encryption to block this.
👍 Intercepted OTPs expire quickly, and repeated requests trigger blocks.
👍 3DS Session Hijacking
Malware or Man-in-the-Middle (MITM) attacks to intercept OTP or session data.
👍 TLS encryption and device fingerprinting prevent MITM.
👍 Malware requires infection — risky and difficult.
👍 Phishing sites often blocked by browsers like Google Safe Browsing.
👍 Stores Without 3DS
Carders try stores without 3DS, mainly outside Europe.
👍 Anti-fraud systems like Stripe Radar (https://stripe.com/radar) block suspicious IPs or behavior regardless.
👍 PSD2 has pushed even small merchants to adopt 3DS.
👍 PSD2 Exceptions Exploitation
Transactions under €30, recurring payments may skip OTP.
👍 Anti-fraud systems flag anomalies in IP/device/behavior.
👍 Banks limit these exceptions, requiring OTP after a few payments.
👍 Automated Bot Attacks
Bots test many cards at small amounts to find non-3DS transactions.
👍 CAPTCHA and behavioral analysis block these attempts.
👍 Systems blacklist suspicious IPs rapidly.
👍 Buying Compromised Accounts
Carders buy accounts with existing 3DS access.
👍 Banks detect contact info changes, suspicious device use, and notify owners or block accounts.
👍 Why Bypassing 3DS & OTP Is Extremely Hard
👍 Multi-layered protection: Anti-fraud tools analyze IP, device fingerprints, behavior, transaction history.
👍 PSD2 mandates SCA in Europe, making bypass nearly impossible for Non-VBV bins.
👍 OTP validity is short and tied to transactions.
👍 Encryption (TLS 1.2/1.3) protects data from interception.
👍 Global blacklists share data on fraudsters.
👍 Legal risk: Banks report attempts to law enforcement.
👍 Real-World Examples
👍 Phishing OTP attempts get blocked by browsers and bank alerts.
👍 Non-VBV bins fail when Stripe Radar blocks IP mismatches.
👍 Low-value transactions trigger OTP despite bin status due to behavior analysis.
👍 Session hijacking fails without device infection and encryption keys.
👍 Modern Security Measures
👍 Biometric authentication increasingly replaces OTPs.
👍 Push notifications via apps reduce SMS interception risks.
👍 Anti-fraud systems like Stripe Radar and Adyen RevenueProtect analyze complex signals.
👍 User education helps prevent social engineering.
Bypassing 3D-Secure and OTP requires huge resources, stealth, and luck - and even then, modern multi-layered defenses, regulations like PSD2, and advanced fraud detection make it highly risky and rarely successful. When you gets good OTPBot that can create a magic path for you.
