Re: Cash machine scams
 

I remember that tomorrow's world and I also remember thinking 'Imagine using that whilst sloshed'.

Picture the scenario - it's 1.30am the midnight monkey's nicked all your money and you need a tenner for the taxi home.
Goto machine
Attempt to sign your name on one of the 4 screens you can see and low and behold the machine swallows your card.
Home at 5am after the 2 steps forward 1 step back routine and up for work at 8 :(

Keep the pin - improve the machine so they can't get unwanted add-ons and we can all keep our jobs :)

Re: Cash machine scams
 

Actually I wasn't suggesting that they replace the pin, more that the technology could be used to scan for any devices, and the machine shut down/bank security notified if any are added.

Re: Cash machine scams
 

All these hi-tech ideas are not really needed. Once they get rid of the magnetic strip from cards (when they are all Chip&PIN) then none of these fraud machines will work anymore.

Re: Cash machine scams
 

It'll only be a matter of time before the chips are hackable - we just have to face the fact that to keep hold of your money in the modern day world we have to be extremely aware of how and when we use our cards.

I too have locked down accounts that have no money in them and no overdraft - and a way of transferring cash into them for online or bigger purchases.

I don't carry cash unless it's for a night out and always try to get cashback from supermarkets or such like rather than drawing out cash from an ATM.

Now I've only got to find a way of paying less tax and I might finally finish my house :)

Re: Cash machine scams
 

Ah, but it is not just the method of storing the data that changes but also the method for accessing that data.

Using a magnetic strip, the card can pass through a skimmer before it enters the ATM and all the data on it can be read.

The chip has to be in permanent contact with the chip reader inside the machine for the ATM to work it cannot be skimmed on entry like a magstrip. Also, the chip does not reveal any information until after the correct PIN is sent into the chip - so you would need to know that before you could get any useful data out of it (card number, etc.).

Re: Cash machine scams
 

the chip and pin service uses a secure method via a java application. Conditions have to be meet for details to be releaved such as account info.

Chip and pin has been in France for a while has decreased fraud but its still a problem

Re: Cash machine scams
 

I have found chip and pin has increased my ability to use Mrs H business bank account DR card. Before I used it to check balances and withdraw cash, now I can use it to pay for things as I know the pin, but cannot forge the signature on the back. Now I am an authorised signatory on the account, but this card is in her name. Nobody checks the info on the card now if you know the pin!

Re: Cash machine scams
 

The smart chip is already there on many cards. If they now want to add biometric authentication, that can easily be added.

Fingerprint readers are now used quite a lot in different applications (I recently saw a laptop with fingerprint login) but in many of those applications you 'own' the reader. Now, how do you feel about depositing your fingerprint on a nice shiny surface for someone to come and harvest?

One of the reasons they're not mainstream, yet, and why retinal scanning is a good idea - except the equipment for that is much bigger and more expensive, so not as practical to implement.

Biometrics is a growth area since it has applications in all areas where identity is important - maybe the national ID card is waiting for some biometric technology to go with it.