Chilean Carding Shop Operator Extradited to the United States for Online Fraud and Identity Theft Crimes

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Chilean National Extradited to US for Cybercrime Charges

A Chilean national, Alex Rodrigo Valenzuela Monje, also known by his alias VAL4K, has been extradited to the United States to face charges related to his alleged involvement in a cybercrime operation that trafficked in stolen payment card data.

Charges and Allegations

Valenzuela Monje, 24, was arraigned in a Utah federal court on charges of trafficking in unauthorized access devices and unlawful transfer of means of identification to facilitate criminal conduct. These charges stem from his alleged operation of illicit online platforms, including Telegram channels named MacacoCC Collective and Novato Carding, where he sold compromised payment card information.

The platforms, which were active from at least May 2021 to August 2023, offered dumps of stolen credit card data, including account numbers, card types, expiration dates, CVV/CVC codes, and cardholder names. The data belonged to major US brands, with one brand alone accounting for approximately 26,000 compromised cards.

Extradition Process

Valenzuela Monje’s extradition was the result of a lengthy process. A Salt Lake City grand jury indicted him in August 2023, and Chile’s Supreme Court approved the US extradition request in April 2025. However, appeals delayed his arrest until January 2026. He was transferred to US custody on February 25, 2026, and pleaded not guilty at his arraignment the following day.

The alleged hacker’s operation involved the sale of stolen payment card data, which is a serious offense with significant consequences for the victims. The case highlights the ongoing threat posed by cybercrime operations that traffic in stolen financial information.