Some Tips To Safe Guard from Credit Card Fraud

sharon silvea · 11-06-2007, 01:30 AM

The following tips help you to safeguard your business from the credit card fraud

* Always ask for identification - you should ask for identification any time you are presented with the credit card. Now days many cardholders write on their card as ask for id in order to prevent the unauthorized use.
* Learn to recognize a credit card's built in security features - the entire credit and debit card has some special characteristics that help both customer and merchant from frauds. In the card credit detection fraud prevention, each time the card is provided you have to consider the following things such as
* A hologram that changes color in the light
* A signature panel that resists erases and protects the cardholder's signature.
* A magnetic strip that transmit the specially coded information
* An embossed account number that is printed in the front is matched with the printed number at the back.
* Let cvc2 and cvv2 help in making a decision - the credit cards implements the cvc2 and cvv2 verification method to have greater security for merchants who process the transaction where there is no customer's card that is through Internet. A three-digit code is printed on the entire signature panel on the back following the 16-digit number. Thus it is used to identify that the customer is posse's genuine credit cards and their account number is legitimate. I this information will be useful for all the people

Hedwig · 11-06-2007, 09:12 AM

Except that, as a merchant, if you ask for ID when the card is swiped and accepted, you have violated your member agreement, and Visa and MasterCard can pull your account. Then you will be unable to accept credit cards.

I don't know if this is true for Discover and AMEX or not, but I do personally know that it is against the Visa/MasterCard agreement.

I was asked for ID and refused to show it. My card was signed and accepted when swiped through the machine. The clerk was refusing to complete my order, but when I called the manager she told the clerk to let it go.

I called Visa and reported it. They told me that they had warned that store on at least one other occasion and it would be taken care of.

By the way, it's also against their agreement to charge a surcharge for using the card or to require a minimum purchase to use the card. Yes, merchants do it, but if enough people complain they will lost the account and no longer be able to accept credit cards.

roybean · 11-06-2007, 09:50 AM

I know a lot of stores that tell you it's a minimum purchase to use a debit card or credit card, a lot of fast food places were doing it too, but I've noticed that not as many are as of late. I didn't know that. I complained at one store because I only stopped for some sugar and some milk and they told me it cost them to use the machine on little purchases. Let me make some calls.

roybean · 11-06-2007, 09:55 AM

Now that I am thnking about it, I know some chinese buffet restaurants that advertise 'all you can eat' but if you say you want a plate to go, they wanna charge you extra. I was at a restaurant where a group of people came in for lunch from work, so naturally they all wanted it to go...they were telling people that if you put too much food on your to go plate it is $2.00 extra. I was standing there and I saw how they were treating those people (and they were giving them extra money).... I said, "That's illegal; you can't advertise all you can eat and then charge people extra because they don't wanna sit down."

They were so nice to me the last time I went in there and I got a plate to go that was full and they didn't say a word.

Hedwig · 11-06-2007, 11:43 AM

The interesting part of it all is that you can give a discount for paying cash, and the credit card companies can't stop that. But charging the fee for using the card is against their agreement.

I know that there are places that have a minimum, but if you protest they'll usually take it. If they don't, call Visa and complain. Around here, I haven't seen any fast food restaurants with a minimum. I charged $1.05 once because I ordered before I realized I didn't have any cash on me. They didn't even blink when I gave them the card.

AntiPlastic · 11-06-2007, 12:02 PM

I did not know that minimum purchases to use your card was against their TOS
I may just make use of that fact later today, thanks

roybean · 11-06-2007, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hedwig

The interesting part of it all is that you can give a discount for paying cash, and the credit card companies can't stop that. But charging the fee for using the card is against their agreement.

I know that there are places that have a minimum, but if you protest they'll usually take it. If they don't, call Visa and complain. Around here, I haven't seen any fast food restaurants with a minimum. I charged $1.05 once because I ordered before I realized I didn't have any cash on me. They didn't even blink when I gave them the card.

No, the fast foods don't have a minimum, but they tack on .50 or .75 cents. I've seen some that charge as much as .95 cents. I see a lot of fast foods now ATMs, and they really hit you if you use it.

Hedwig · 11-06-2007, 02:18 PM

If you use an ATM that they have in their facility you pay a charge, can be as much as $3. But if you use the card to pay for purchases they shouldn't be charging you anything.

I don't know if the rules are different for debit cards or not.

magyar123 · 11-21-2007, 01:12 PM

It's really up to a merchant's cashier, long lines, laziness, or whatever to ask for an ID when a customer pays with a credit card.
Yesterday bought 2 books of stamps at the post office. Used my cc - for $16.40. No ID required. Postal clerk just swiped card through, printed something out, I signed it. Gave me receipt, I was out the door.
From there went to a pizza joint - lunch buffet, with soda, used my CC for $6.50. ID required.

Hedwig · 11-21-2007, 04:15 PM

No, it's not. It's against their card agreement to ask for ID if the card is swiped and approved. Period. End of statement.

If they want to take cards, they need to read the agreement. The agreement states that if the card is swiped through the machine and approved, they CANNOT ask for ID.

By the way, writing "SEE ID" on the back of your card instead of signing it is also against the terms of YOUR agreement. The card (and your agreement) say that the card is NOT VALID UNLESS SIGNED. If the card isn't signed, the merchant is not supposed to accept it.

If it's signed, it's swiped and approved, they are not supposed to ask for ID. If they do, they are violating the agreement and should be reported.

The post office obviously knows the rules. I have seen them refuse to accept a card that wasn't signed, by the way.

magyar123 · 11-21-2007, 05:09 PM

I never signed any of my cards on the back. The only "security provision" is at gas stations, at the pump, is that you have enter your zip code. Once I miskeyed a digit within my zip code and a note came up - "please re-enter your zip code".

Enigma · 11-21-2007, 10:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magyar123

I never signed any of my cards on the back. The only "security provision" is at gas stations, at the pump, is that you have enter your zip code. Once I miskeyed a digit within my zip code and a note came up - "please re-enter your zip code".

By not signing your card you are in violation of your user agreement. Should you have a a fraudulent charge you are not protected.

flicks · 11-23-2007, 06:20 PM

I can't help but remember Apu Nahasapeemapetillon from The Simpsons whenever I buy small stuff at Kwik-E-Mart type of stores, ie gas stations. I use my card to buy anything everywhere for anyhowmuch, but whenever a clerk reminds me of Apu, I just pay cash, only to avoid his look.

Luckily PayPal has no face to frown at me when I use my CC to pay for a 5 cent eBay item. Yes, there actually are such items listed, I just don't get it why. Insertion fees, transaction fees and oh-so-many other fees are much more than that. Beats me.