This link goes out to all the naïve people (in my opinion) out there who think that signing their credit card chitties is far more secure than the new Chip and PIN and go about telling the world that it's a silly invention. Excuses such as my signature is far more unique than a three in 9999 chance are just guff.
Oh yeah... the link... The Credit Card Prank. Basically it's written by a guy who's signed for things (and got away with) using random names and images and the like - things that look nothing like his signature!
Of course if somebody knows your PIN and has your card then you are doomed. It's all about keeping you PIN safe - and you can keep it much safter than your signature anyday!
That link is very funny.
I accept that chip and pin has it's flaws... the obvious one is dodgy retailers using fake terminals to collect your pin and mag strip info and then produce a fake card that they can use in a cash point which doesn't look at the chip.
However.... despite the flaws.... it's got to be a lot more secure than using a signature. You could of course write your pin number on the signature strip (to help you remember it, as you no longer need the signature strip for it's original purpose), in which case it would possibly (just about) be less secure than the signature way of doing things.
Posted by: Chris on May 11, 2005 2:08 PMLike the link :-)
I used to work in a shop which sold antique silver and jewellery. Expensive stuff. Of course we wanted to reduce CC fraud, but we also had to give our customers the idea that they were wonderful and that we didn't doubt them for a second.
I developed a technique of staring at the signature on the card while I was keying the numbers into the machine (which was out of sight of the customer), then verifying the signature by watching them sign the slip. This also meant I could see how natural they were when signing.
Now for a small amount of post-hijacking: as customers were often making unusually large purchases, the transactions often got flagged for authorisation. This involves ringing the card company, giving them the card information, verifying some of the info on the card, then handing the phone to the customer for them to verify their details. The only problem was people's embarrasment, but they were normally fine when I explained that it happened a lot.
Now, a few times in various places I've seen a card get flagged for authorisation on the machine (which will normally say "ring 0800 123 4567" on the display), only for the shop/restaurant staff to just cancel the transaction and try again. Of course, it fails again. Card processors aren't stupid. They then hand the card back to the embarrased customer and ask for a different card or cash. The only time I've been able to say anything about it, it was a very painful conversation trying to get the waiter to read the message on the machine and obey it. Gah.
Posted by: Joe on May 11, 2005 5:38 PMIt annoys me more when people don't check my signature at all than when they're over thorough...
Posted by: Al on May 11, 2005 5:52 PMYeah! How often do I hand my card over, they swipe it, without looking at the signature and then give it back before I've signed! Grrr!
Posted by: Russ on May 11, 2005 10:36 PMSo far I only have one chip and pin card that actually prompts for a PIN (which at the moment I don't know), I say i don't know the pin the sales person overwrites and I sign transaction complete!
The reason I haven't asked for the PIN is because it is a mastercard, and I don't want to be tempted to withdraw cash.
I do think it is better security though
Posted by: Shola Ogunlokun on May 11, 2005 11:12 PM