15 years old. I was introduced to stolen credit cards. But not just stolen credit cards like you'd imagine.

I started out like most people do with stolen credit cards, ordering things from websites. Then I learned what "dumps" were. Basically stolen information but directly from a cards magnetic stripe which is very different form the numbers on the front. With that information, I was able to rewrite that information onto blank gift cards and go out and spend like there was no tomorrow. For 5 years I lived lavishly. I would drive to different cities and states picking up 20-30 MacBooks in a weekend and sell them off to a guy I met on Craigslist who ALWAYS had money and never asked questions. He'd buy my products in bulk bi weekly. I'd sell him thousands of dollars worth of gift cards, the latest video games, etc.

I'd frequent Vegas and then I developed a gambling problem at 19. I had a fake ID I bought off some guy who didn't speak English at an underground swap meet. I gambled, everyone knew me and if I lost, I ate a good dinner, got a sweet penthouse, and tried to recover my losses. Everything I bought was 100% profit. I rented out sweet houses on AirBnB & Homeaway, I had every videogame, so much stuff, I would just buy to buy. Gas was free for 4 years, so was groceries, clothing, tires, fast food, etc.

Eventually, everything came to a halt and I was caught. So, naturally, I started shop back up. I even bought myself some pretty nice court clothes, and I continued living how I previously lived but with more caution. (not really.) I was caught again a year later, house raided, car impounded, money seized, etc.

Now, I have no plans to ever do that again. Yes it was awesome, yes I would probably do it now if there was a 100% guarantee I wouldn't get caught. But I will never do it again. It was totally insane while it lasted, a lot of good times were had but I'm over it and it honestly feels good to work hard and save for something you really want.