Credit and Debit Card Security

It would be too complicated to administer. Already it is a real pain when a card is not accepted in some places abroad and you cannot find out why. Not as bad as having your card clone, for sure, but still a pain.

Banks do not care about losses unless they reach a certain value (and if the customer can be made to pay then no reason to worry). It is not longer a police matter, even though it may well be linked to other crime. Banks already have systems to detect unusual spending patterns, but if you are abroad frequently then this may not help (unless the card is used in 2 different countries at the same time..). I expect a cloned card can be relatively easily detected.

you think that is bad? in the past, each card had extra security features: signature embossed, photo,full name printed, smart chip,extra code at the back.,etc now banks are issuing cards with only the number, even the cardholder's name is gone!

All the credit card fraud that affected my cards was committed in the UK. Why single out foreign countries? Why not prohibit all transaction more than, say, 10 miles from your home without pre- authorisation? Or how about you nominate the list of stores where you will use your cards?

That maybe true in Singapore but it is not in the part of the world that is on-topic for this newsgroup.

Tony

At least one UK bank removed photos and embedded signatures from cards in favour of a 3 digit number. They then informed customers that the new cards would be more secure as a result.!

I thought they all did.

It is supposed to prove the purchaser has the card (because # is on the back) and is essential for use on many websites.

Unfortunately it is a very low level security. Although the # is on the back on not imprinted on the old type vouchers, the merchant can copy the number onto the same voucher (and doubtless dispose of in a highly secure manor). And some hotels insist on taking front and back photocopy of your card and get you to sign it (after taking your date of birth as well).

So the # is little better than relying on the expiry date.

They can set up watches for "unusual activity" and should be able to do this on request so that additional security requests can be made.

It would be really useful to be able to say to the bank that you don't want your CC used abroad unless you specifically request it. Having to tell the bank when you're going on your jolies is a minor PITA compared to having your CC used abroad fraudulently.

unless the bank itself is from 'part of the world that is on-topic for this newsgroup'.

Yes it would. Even the smallest change is complicated. That is always the case with systems that work on a large scale (i.e. millions of customers and millions of transactions).

They already do this whether you request it or not.

It would also be useful if my CC was not rejected abroad.