Odd security question

danco

Several times recently I have been asked a completely pointless security question by a bank (most recently by Co-Operative Bank, but not only them). It's no great issue, but I wonder why the bank asked a question that added no security whatsoever.

I was first asked my date of birth, which is a reasonable security question. And then the follow-up question was how old I would be on my next birthday!! Which, of course, can be immediately worked out from my previous answer.

Sarahspangles

danco said:

Several times recently I have been asked a completely pointless security question by a bank (most recently by Co-Operative Bank, but not only them). It's no great issue, but I wonder why the bank asked a question that added no security whatsoever.

I was first asked my date of birth, which is a reasonable security question. And then the follow-up question was how old I would be on my next birthday!! Which, of course, can be immediately worked out from my previous answer.

LOL that’s one of the questions on the rapid dementia test they sometimes use in hospitals.

badmemory

It is one thing to remember another persons date of birth but if you take too long to say how old you are you could be stuck if it is not actually YOUR date of birth.  Harder to be very quick if the dob is later in the year too.

Sarahspangles

badmemory said:

It is one thing to remember another persons date of birth but if you take too long to say how old you are you could be stuck if it is not actually YOUR date of birth.  Harder to be very quick if the dob is later in the year too.

What if I always lie, but am consistent with it?

badmemory

Then I assume you win scammer of the year award.

AmityNeon

Immediately worked out? I don’t think so. The average person will probably take at least a few seconds to work out the age of someone’s next birthday from just a date of a birth, which can be enough to weed out any ill-prepared fraudsters as the slightest hesitation can result in a failed security check.

born_again

danco said:

Several times recently I have been asked a completely pointless security question by a bank (most recently by Co-Operative Bank, but not only them). It's no great issue, but I wonder why the bank asked a question that added no security whatsoever.

I was first asked my date of birth, which is a reasonable security question. And then the follow-up question was how old I would be on my next birthday!! Which, of course, can be immediately worked out from my previous answer.

That's the thing about security questions. 
Changing them up, rather than rely on the same old, keeps people on their toes.

boingy

OK. Hands up if it just took you more than a second or so to think how old you'll be on your next birthday.
That's a security question I could easily fail!

km1500

I've had that before - your mind freezes and you just can't remember. 

username

I wouldn't say it's unreasonable. It reminds me of the time when the bouncers used on the doors in the clubs (if they were unsure of whether it was your ID) would ask what your star sign was. If you'd learnt your borrower ID's details well you'd probably pass the sniff test, but if you were a bad liar, were nervous oe bad at astrology you'd be busted. 

Tony5896

I’m stuffed if they ask me that .. I always say the wrong age