Contactless Payment

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Chip and Pin system was broken long before it became the required method in this country.

Urban Myth. Those who got fooled into providing their card and PIN to supposed "Bank reps" make those claims to avoid getting hit with the bill. The scams are frequent and the elderly are usually targeted.
 

classic33

Leg End Member
Urban Myth. Those who got fooled into providing their card and PIN to supposed "Bank reps" make those claims to avoid getting hit with the bill. The scams are frequent and the elderly are usually targeted.
Real life, I continued to sign despite being able to use a four digit pin, due to this fact. Not pleased when that option was removed.

Well known within the banking system that a flawed system was being made mandatory. The blame was shifted as well, onto the named cardholder.
 
This is one area where contactless could really work in the passenger's favour.

Get on a bus and swipe your card-the journey is recorded but no payment taken.

At the end of the week all your trips logged with that card are analysed, and the cheapest ticket option is calculated and charged for.

This is what is required

I us eTickets for First Bus at the moment and over a week save £8 by If I by Day eTickets and £12 (or more) if I buy a Weekly eTicket
 
Real life, I continued to sign despite being able to use a four digit pin, due to this fact. Not pleased when that option was removed.

Well known within the banking system that a flawed system was being made mandatory. The blame was shifted as well, onto the named cardholder.

Years ago I found out that the issuing bank has no record of your card signature . The fact that an unsigned new or replacement card is sent to you and you then sign at the back prior to usage, with the bank having no idea what your signature looks like attest to this. Thus no signature comparison is ever made on card transactions unlike cheque.

Hence the introduction of chip to stem the losses. The authentication of the PIN is done in a hardware (not software) secured environment and the keys are kept separately by VISA and the Bank. It is rather complicated. The only way that PIN is known is if the cardholder hands it over inadvertently or wrote it down somewhere. The PIN that is sent to cardholder is system generated and cannot be done manually or with humans having sight of the PIN. And banks ask that you change the PIN yourself to give you piece of mind.
 

classic33

Leg End Member
The "secure" method of sending the initial PIN out was demonstrated as flawed. They can be read without the envelope being opened.

If no copy of your signature is kept, you could legally say that you never signed in the first place. The signature is a hangover from the older system, nothing else.

Retailers have to foot the bill if an unsigned card is used in their store(s). With many passing this onto the staff. They'll keep the finders fee for such a card though.
 

Pale Rider

Legendary Member
. The only way that PIN is known is if the cardholder hands it over inadvertently or wrote it down somewhere.

There is also the prevalent crime of 'shoulder surfing' - criminals getting your PIN number by looking over your shoulder at the cash machine.

Technology has developed that one a bit, more likely to be done now by a covert camera above the key pad, or a dummy fascia.

Not much to be done about the latter if you fall for it, but the advice to cover you PIN entering hand with your other hand is sound even if there is no one about.
 
There is also the prevalent crime of 'shoulder surfing' - criminals getting your PIN number by looking over your shoulder at the cash machine.

Technology has developed that one a bit, more likely to be done now by a covert camera above the key pad, or a dummy fascia.

Not much to be done about the latter if you fall for it, but the advice to cover you PIN entering hand with your other hand is sound even if there is no one about.

Yes, this is a problem in London especially where high end tourist make make ATM withdrawals. I understand that the Eastern Europeans are masters at this.
 

classic33

Leg End Member
There is also the prevalent crime of 'shoulder surfing' - criminals getting your PIN number by looking over your shoulder at the cash machine.

Technology has developed that one a bit, more likely to be done now by a covert camera above the key pad, or a dummy fascia.

Not much to be done about the latter if you fall for it, but the advice to cover you PIN entering hand with your other hand is sound even if there is no one about.
If the keypad is genuine though.

Manchester got hit with pinhole cameras on ATM's last month.
 

Pale Rider

Legendary Member
Yes, this is a problem in London especially where high end tourist make make ATM withdrawals. I understand that the Eastern Europeans are masters at this.

Spot on, it's a crime committed almost exclusively by Romanians.

Some of the Guardian reading lefties on here will curl a lip at that, but it was confirmed in a parliamentary answer a couple of years ago.

I spoke to a copper who investigated one mob.

A gang member told him the plan was to steal about £30K then stop and return to Roumania.

The criminal told him that amount was enough to set himself up reasonably well for life back home.
 

mybike

Grumblin at Garmin on the Granny Gear
There is also the prevalent crime of 'shoulder surfing' - criminals getting your PIN number by looking over your shoulder at the cash machine.

Technology has developed that one a bit, more likely to be done now by a covert camera above the key pad, or a dummy fascia.

Not much to be done about the latter if you fall for it, but the advice to cover you PIN entering hand with your other hand is sound even if there is no one about.

Or else card readers in retailers can be interfered with
 

Pale Rider

Legendary Member
The cordless readers used by some waiting staff are particularly vulnerable.

Then there's the simple card cloning done when the waiter takes your card away to sort the bill.

Obvious advice there is never let the card out of your sight.

Getting up from the table and traipsing across to the pay point is a small price to pay for the added security.

Some filling station staff were into this one when you had to hand the card through the security window for them to put in the machine.

Most filling stations now put the card reader on the customer side of the glass.
 

slowmotion

Quite dreadful
Location
lost somewhere
Someone I know was delighted to get his over-sixties bus pass. He made great use of it but was very disappointed to discover that the bus readers were debiting funds from other contactless cards in his wallet when he waved it at the gizmo.
 
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