Where can I find out more about 'Brute Force' attacks?

Stephanie Boukhari
2026-03-31T20:13:00Z

What is a Brute Force attack?

The first six numbers of a card number identify the issuing bank and card network such Mastercard or Visa. The rest of the card’s numbers are computer-generated and unique to every cardholder.

A Brute Force attack refers to a style of scam in which a fraudster takes the first six numbers and runs software to generate the rest of the numbers and card information.

How do fraudsters obtain the card details?

Brute Force attacks occur where fraudsters use software to generate hundreds of card combinations every second which are then tested by making small transactions to check the validity of the card.

Is my personal information safe?

The integrity of your personal information is maintained during a Brute Force attack, as the fraudster is not able to access personal information using this method. The fraudsters are focussed on retrieving valid card information.

What security measures do you have in place to protect me?

At Centtrip, we are committed to keeping your money safe and have a range of systems and procedures in place to help us automatically detect and prevent fraud.

For security reasons, we cannot disclose any specific details on our anti-fraud measures, but we have compiled some steps you can take to keep your card(s) secure.

Will I need a new card?

If no funds have successfully been taken, you can continue to use the same card, as it will have increased fraud controls in place. However, if you would feel more comfortable with a new card, we will be more than happy to arrange a replacement for you.

Will this happen again?

Whilst we cannot guarantee against further fraudulent attempts, any card which has been involved in a Brute Force attack has additional security measures placed upon it to protect you from a similar attack.

Money was successfully taken from my card during the attack, how can I recover this?

If you notice any unusual card activity, please follow these steps immediately to block your card and raise a transaction dispute.

Is this kind of attack unique to Centtrip?

No. Brute Force attacks are a very common method which fraudsters use to attempt to exploit card information, whether that’s a prepaid, credit or debit card. This type of attack has increased by 80% since 2020 globally. However, Centtrip is committed to working with its partners and cardholders to reduce the risk and minimise the impact.