Editorial Standards
These standards govern how we research, write, review and correct content on Dark Dollars.
Independence
Dark Dollars is an independent reference site. We do not sell cards, process payments or hold funds. Store links are provided as a convenience reference and do not determine our editorial coverage. No seller or shop can pay for a favourable description.
How content is researched
Each page begins with the question a reader actually asks. We research the answer against primary sources where possible: card-network documentation, ISO standards, PCI-DSS material and issuer disclosures. Where primary sources are unavailable, we state the limitation.
How content is written
We write answer-first. The first paragraph answers the question directly, then the page explains the detail. We use tables for comparisons and lists for procedures. We avoid promotional language and claims we cannot support.
Review and accuracy
Technical pages are reviewed by Marcus Hale, a payment systems analyst with over 12 years of experience. Review covers terminology, formats, procedures and the current state of card-network rules. Pages carry a visible "Last updated" date.
Corrections
If you find an error, email us via the contact page with the page URL and a description. Verified corrections are applied and the "Last updated" date is refreshed. Material corrections are noted in the changelog.
Use of tools and generated content
Our tools are client-side utilities. Generated test data is clearly labelled and intended for development only. We do not publish fabricated reviews, ratings or statistics. Data studies state their methodology and limitations.
What we do not do
- We do not fabricate reviews, ratings or testimonials.
- We do not publish content solely to target keywords.
- We do not hide text or links from users.
- We do not present generated content as first-hand experience.