Comments on: Ordinary people

By: Jamie

Jamie — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 11:33:30 +0000

Yes, but if you are a criminal you have a choice. You can show me your identification (risky), try to create some sort of fake ID that looks legitimate (difficult), or try an easier way to steal such as card-not-present transactions (which is exactly what happens in most countries that have migrated to chip cards). It still sounds like a great and effective anti-fraud strategy for the retailer.

By: Jamie

Jamie — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:50:47 +0000

Dave, I suspect that the “sportswear Store One” policy of asking for your ID has nothing to do with verifying your signature. I suspect that it is probably a very effective anti-fraud technique. If I steal credit card data via a skimming device or illegal access to transaction data, it may be relatively easy to produce fraudulent plastics. However, it will be much more difficult to produce a “valid” driver’s license, passport, or state ID. Unless I steal your entire wallet and look like you, I cannot use your card at that retailer. There is no need for the clerk to look at the signature.

By: Consult Hyperion

Consult Hyperion — Fri, 18 Nov 2011 02:43:43 +0000

But how could the store verify my English driver’s licence even if I had left it in my wallet? They could not possibly tell whether it is real or not – and since my card was a Travelex MasterCard pre-paid US Dollar card that does not have my name on it anyway – I can’t see how that would have helped, if you see what I mean.