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Credit card signatures: Useless?

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the yep-and-you-betcha dept.

SpaceAdmiral writes "Everyone should remember John Hargrave's classic Credit Card Prank on Zug. He tried signing fake names on his credit card receipt, and no one seemed to care. But that's nothing compared to The Credit Card Prank, Part 2. Can he draw obscene pictures instead of signing his credit card? Yes, it turns out. Is there any way of getting your signature checked? . . . Yes, it turns out. But you have to do an awful lot."

2 of 1,067 comments (clear)

  1. Some things to consider by Pointed+Stick · · Score: 5, Insightful

    I know everyone in concerned about credit card security, but please consider:

    1 - Don't just write "see id" on the signature line of your card. Most people don't realize that credit cards are transferable. That is why they almost always contain the phrases "NOT VALID UNLESS SIGNED" and "AUTHORIZED SIGNATURE". If you fail to sign your card, then the person who steals it will just sign it for you. It doesn't matter if the signature matches the name on the front of the card. It only matters if the signature on the back matches the signature on the receipt. If writing "see id" on the back of your card makes you feel safer, great, but please remember to also sign the card.

    2 - If you want someone to check your ID when you sign your card, please hand it to the cashier with your credit card.

    3 - The security of your credit cards is primarily your concern not the concern of the cashier. I assure you that someone who refuses payment to some yuppie that forgot their driver's license would almost assuredly be reprimanded when that same person calls in to complain. And they WILL complain. People are not reasonable. YOU may be, but trust me, not everyone is as understanding as you are.

    Cheers!

    -Pointed Stick

  2. Re:Almost useless by repvik · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Uhmm. DUH?

    The the pin is not stored on the card. You can copy the card as much as you want, but it won't be of any use as long as you don't have the pin.

    The pin could probably be read with interference, but that'd require some hefty equipment. That's not something your ordinary wallet-thief will have access to.