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A lot of the chip readers around here have sped up significantly since first introduced.  

 

On the flip side, there are many small businesses where you still have to swipe the card through.

 

I also heard a story on NPR recently that reported on the arrival of new more pleasing "remove card" noises instead of the "wrong answer" or "busy signal" sound of the current prompt.
 
My credit card and debit also have account number and name on the back of the card. This means there will be nothing on the front to distract attention from the credit union logo. LOL

 

These cards have the chips. According to my credit union, the decision to move the number and name to the back were influenced by some new guideline from Visa.

 

Also my cards no longer have raised numbers. That's not totally surprising, since it's been years since I even saw one of those old mechanical credit card machines that used the carbon paper type slips.
 
Yep the info is on the rear in case someone has to manually key the information or make a card not present transaction. This is the first card I have seen like this, but I don't work in retail anymore.

About a year ago I got a notice from my bank that my card was used for a "card present" transaction in Los Angeles. I found this interesting seeing as how my card was in my wallet in my pocket which was in Minnesota at the time!! Apparently I swiped my magnetic strip (likely at a gas pump) where a skimmer read my credentials. These were recorded on a different card which was swiped through a terminal in a Victoria's Secret store in LA. It is high time that the magnetic strips are removed, they are too easy to duplicate. Seems like the processors and banks would be willing to foot the bill, fraud costs them tons as it is.

I was able to make the use of a PIN mandatory on my one card. With this added security measure I shouldn't have to face the possibility of fraudulent activity on that card again. I highly recommend setting up a mandatory PIN if possible.

The photo here is my old card that got skimmed. It was my first chip card and it happened shortly after I received it. I had to dissect it to see the chip inside! You can clearly see the Silicon chip and the individual lead wires that connect out to the front terminal pads. It is encapsulated in a small dot of clear resin sandwiched in the layers of the card itself.

kb0nes-2017072613045402770_1.jpg
 
Wow... we've had chip cards in Canada for a few years now.  The bank debit cards were the first to go this route to counteract the number of cards that got cloned by doctored ATM machines.  The banks were losing millions, so they picked this solution to reduce fraud losses.  Your PIN is registered in the chip, apparently, so that even if someone can build a duplicate card, it won't work because it will have the wrong combination of account and PIN numbers. 

 

On a typical card here, you still have your name and account number in relief, as well as a magnetic stripe. 

 

Also, for most purchases, you simply wave the card.  For purchases greater than $100, however, you have to insert the card and type in the PIN. 
 
Credit card, e-mail and online banking security

 

 

I highly recommend EVERYONE add as many layers of security to your cards, accounts and e-mail as possible!

 

Nearly a year ago someone hacked into my e-mail and found a link to my online banking, which unfortunately allowed them access.  They went into my e-mail settings and set it so ANY e-mail that came from my bank, went directly into the trash (or junk?) folder.  They then got into my bank account and transferred the majority of the funds out of it!!   Fortunately my banks security and fraud department was paying attention and called me that afternoon to confirm if I made the transfer or not.  FORTUNATELY they were able to trace where the money went (some account in Florida) and get it all back within a week!  WHEW!!!

 

Like most people I'm sure, I was complacent, or simply didn't think about the possibilities.

 

Since then I changed both the user names & passwords for email and online banking, making them both much more complex.  IF anyone tries to get into my e-mail with the wrong password, I get an e-mail notifying me.  Also, if I try to log in to e-mail or online baking from device I don't normally use, I get a text with a code I have to enter in order to continue.  This should stop, or at least slow down anyone who tries to get into my accounts. 

 

I also contacted my credit card providers and set up notifications so anytime there's a charge over a specified amount, in this case $0.50 on either of my cards, I'll get both a text & e-mail letting me know a charge is being processed on that card and for how much.  This way I know instantly and if I didn't authorize the charge, I can immediately contact credit card security to let them know, rather than when my statement arrives weeks later.

 

The one thing I don't like (but have never had a problem with) is some(?) many(?) credit cards have the proximity chip(?) so at certain businesses you only need to wave your card (or wallet or purse) by a sensor to complete your transaction.  Of course many of the high tech thieves have a scanner where they only need to get within 12-14 inches of your card, where ever it may be, and they suddenly have everything they need to make charges on your card.  I'm guessing that's what Phil referred to as being "skimmed" above.   

 

Kevin
 
Wow... we've had chip cards in Canada for a few years no

US technology has apparently lagged.

 

I recall one incident when there was some problem with accounts getting compromised. It hit major media, and some experts commented that we should expect more such stories. Our system was hopelessly behind the times compared to other countries... And so criminals looking to go shopping using someone else's credit card account would likely head to a country where the system was easier to compromise...

 

So far, I haven't seen any "wave the card" systems...but then I use my cards at a very limited number of stores. It's always insert the card into the reader.
 
Kevin, the skimmers are reading the magnetic stripe on the card. They are most often installed on non-attended card readers such as those on gas pumps or independent ATM's. They actually just read the info and save it into a file. The number can then simply be recorded onto a different card for use. This is one of the reasons why some retailers will actually look at the stamped number on the card after swiping to see that it matches the last 4 of the mag stripe data.

The RFID or proximity cards are few and far between here in the US from what I have seen. People get all wigged out about these because they can be read remotely leading to profiteers selling all kinds of RFID protecting wallets and sleeves. If you card is remotely readable it will clearly state it is, most here in the states aren't. In any case you are way more likely to be compromised with a mag stripe skimmer then an RFID reader. ApplePay and other electronic proximity payment systems are MUCH more secure and have basically leap-frogged the RFID credit cards.

The electronically read chip in the card is a good system because when it is read the retailers system has to use your card's data to get a single use 'token' from the bank. Even if had the data in the chip it can't be replicated for a future transaction. The chip system works well, although it is a couple seconds slower.

The bad part with the chip read cards is they still can't stop lost or stolen card fraud. Anyone that has your card can insert it and use it (we all know most retailers don't check ID etc.). So in this regard the chip is no better then the mag stripe. Add the required PIN and the two-factor authentication makes the card nearly fraud proof.

I agree with Kevin with signing up for text notifications, it is a great way to stay on top what is happening with your accounts!!
 
Contactless

Our cards have the magnetic strip, and the chip + PIN, and the built in RFID aerial.

I am not a fan of contactless. There were some cases of London buses debiting money from the wrong card in peoples bags and wallets. Similarly, there was a case of a woman customer shopping in a department store (possibly Marks & Spencer), and the wrong card in her purse/wallet was accessed.

Furthermore, I would never even DREAM of paying by waving an iPhone over a terminal. That's just asking for trouble.
 
I'm addicted to technology. I use contactless for everything, both on my Samsung Galaxy S8+ Smartphone or the Samsung Gear S3 Frontier Smartwatch.

The only issue I have, sometimes is that Samsung's security system goes off and it's a PITA to turn off, other than that, never had an issue, except Wells Fargo always trying to make a "mistake to steal my money.
 
My banks have all sent me the new cards with the chips on them. The chips must have been around longer though, I remember reading about credit cards years ago having a chip in them, and I always thought the magnetic strip had a chip inside, but I was wrong!

So far only one gas station here has the chip reading gas pumps, and I have had a difficult time figuring out how the card is supposed to go in, it's really not clear from the symbols on there.

One station here used to have lots of problems with the scammers on their pumps to where they had to issue their own gas cards that you could use instead if you wanted to. I stopped going to that station because of it, but I think it has since stopped.
 
I had a series of fraudulent transactions on my old American Express/Costco card. Amex alerted me via email to suspect transactions, and in each case I determined they were not legit. I suspect a local Valero gas station was the culprit: Contrary to my usual practice, I went in and handed them my card and went out to pump gas. When I came back in there was an unusual delay in getting my card back - it was no longer at the front counter by someone in back was fooling with it. It was a few weeks after that I started getting the bad transactions.

As I recall Amex issued a new card, and within a year Costco switched to Visa and I let the Amex account wither on the vine.

On the rare occasion where I find myself at the suspect gas station again, I use cash at one of the kiosks instead of plastic. Usually it's when I'm in too much of a hurry to drive out to Costco to use their pumps, which is not very often. I have never confronted the gas station with my suspicions... I figure it wouldn't do any good anyway.
 
Just stopped at a gas station the other day and I saw they have a holographic sticker over the card reader to try to inspire confidence that it hasn't been hacked.

The mag strip on my most used hard has been getting finicky, makes me more aware of how many places are still swiping cards. I also have been noticing how carelessly some employees handle the card. It is time to do away with the mag stripe!

I think I will look into starting to use Apple Pay but I like my 2% cash back of the current card I use. Perhaps I can pay Apple with the card and get the increased security with my 2% still.

kb0nes-2017073017561305513_1.jpg
 
 
A couple convenience gas stations here have had pump scanners hacked recently.  One is a restaurant/store on the freeway, which is a prime location for hacking when unattended.  The store I use is in town, brightly-lit, open/attended 24/7, and frequented by local police so hopefully is more secure.
 

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