Photos on credit cards (security)

chattychappy

In the end, what's needed is a positive way of establishing ID mechanically. Retina scan, finger print/DNA (except twins!). Anything else is really just a proxy for verifying presence. I can imagine with photos that there is little come back on a merchant (and therefore incentive) if they fail to check the photo. PLUS, photos might make cardholders less careful with their cards/slower to report loss.

Humans are pretty good at not being fooled. It's rare for you to mistake a stranger for someone you have regular contact with. Technology isn't there yet.

olly300

I had an RBS photo debit card years ago.

The problem was when the card was replaced you didn't need to get a new photo. So like passport photos it was useless.

guesswho2000

olly300 wrote: »

I had an RBS photo debit card years ago.

The problem was when the card was replaced you didn't need to get a new photo. So like passport photos it was useless.

Unrelated, but how is that the same as passport photos? When your replace your passport you have to renew the photo?

[Deleted User]

Costco do this with their Amex cobrand card (both in the USA and the UK):





But still, it wouldn't work for security, unless every shop assistant is told to check every card, every time... which they still wouldn't.

dalesrider

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

I had a card from (I think) N & P many years ago, both my photo and signature were part of the card construction.
Several financial institutions did use these cards and it was widely reported in the media that the % fraud rate on these cards was
very low.

Then these cards vanished - why ?

I have my own theory; the banks actually like a degree of fraud to take place on their cards - which enables them to use this as an excuse to hike charges/interest rates and it is also a handy way to "lose" odd bits and pieces:D

Given that actual card theft fraud is very low.... A pic on a card that the retailer never touches is a waste of cost to produce a card.
In fact most stolen cards are used in atms. So a pic on them is just a waste of time.

Most fraud is online.
So how will a retailer ever see the pic, never mind the fact that no card is ever used only the numbers.
Counterfiet atm fraud overseas is again in the same area. While a card is used, there is nothing in the atm that could check any pic on a card and match it to the person using the atm.

Also you fail to note that bank's claim the vast majority of fraud back from the retailers.
Even c/f atm can be reclaimed in the vast majority of countries.

Money-Saving-King

yangptangkipperbang wrote: »

I have my own theory; the banks actually like a degree of fraud to take place on their cards - which enables them to use this as an excuse to hike charges/interest rates and it is also a handy way to "lose" odd bits and pieces. This theory was floated years ago, but the banks denied it; they wouldn't do anything like that - would they ??

Who on earth "floated" this theory? It's obvious it's a load of rubbish!