Difficulty Ordering - and random notes on card security
- Thread starter tyliz
- Start date
M1A1xVIKINGxFTW
Active Member
Re: Difficulty Ordering
you usually have three digits on the front of visas and MasterCards and four digits on the front of an AmEx card......the three digits on the back apply to all three....however why do you require the digits on the back E? most purchases i make only require the ones on the front...odingalt said:
Re: Difficulty Ordering
Using three digits on the back is just added security. If someone steals a card number they might write down all the front numbers but forget about the three digits on the back. Most websites where you purchase things online will ask you for the 3 digits on the back when you enter your card information.
Using three digits on the back is just added security. If someone steals a card number they might write down all the front numbers but forget about the three digits on the back. Most websites where you purchase things online will ask you for the 3 digits on the back when you enter your card information.
Re: Difficulty Ordering
CVV code for on-line purchases has become 'the norm' with credit card processing gateways. CVV is supposed to help reduce theft from 'card skimmers' and 'dumpster diving'.
Card skimmers - an illegal magnetic strip reader that is placed in front of or next to a legitimate strip reader - it can be attached to ATM's or even attached to the little card reader at your grocer's checkout line (though it would be hard to make something people wouldn't notice). This little skimmer will read the data off your card when you swipe - then often transmit it wirelessly to a guy sitting outside the store in his panel van. However, it may be that the CVV code is not stored on the magnetic stripe. Therefore it is difficult for the crook to use your stolen number on-line unless he also uses a small camera to get a picture of the CVV code on the back of your card - which is MUCH more difficult than just stealing the info off the magnetic strip.
The same type of stealing supposedly works on "RFID" credit cards (such as 'speed pass') as some of the early ones apparently did not use any sort of encryption.
Dumpster Diving - you check into a hotel, for example. They do print a batch of receipts that actually show your full name, credit card number and expiration date. However the printout doesn't have your CVV code. So again the guy who digs in the trash (if that hotel forgot to properly dispose of or store those receipts when they were done) will have a hard time making purchases on-line at stores that require the CVV code. Unfortunately a lot of mid to high end hotels might also make photocopies of the front and back of your card and keep it on file. My father had his credit card stolen from a hotel while on a training trip out-of-stated (well that's my guess anyway, because he hadn't used the card in months but 24 hours after checking into that hotel, there were illegal charges on his card). Figure the scum of the earth behind the counter making $2 over minimum wage felt they deserved an extra treat.
M1A1xVIKINGxFTW said:
CVV code for on-line purchases has become 'the norm' with credit card processing gateways. CVV is supposed to help reduce theft from 'card skimmers' and 'dumpster diving'.
Card skimmers - an illegal magnetic strip reader that is placed in front of or next to a legitimate strip reader - it can be attached to ATM's or even attached to the little card reader at your grocer's checkout line (though it would be hard to make something people wouldn't notice). This little skimmer will read the data off your card when you swipe - then often transmit it wirelessly to a guy sitting outside the store in his panel van. However, it may be that the CVV code is not stored on the magnetic stripe. Therefore it is difficult for the crook to use your stolen number on-line unless he also uses a small camera to get a picture of the CVV code on the back of your card - which is MUCH more difficult than just stealing the info off the magnetic strip.
The same type of stealing supposedly works on "RFID" credit cards (such as 'speed pass') as some of the early ones apparently did not use any sort of encryption.
Dumpster Diving - you check into a hotel, for example. They do print a batch of receipts that actually show your full name, credit card number and expiration date. However the printout doesn't have your CVV code. So again the guy who digs in the trash (if that hotel forgot to properly dispose of or store those receipts when they were done) will have a hard time making purchases on-line at stores that require the CVV code. Unfortunately a lot of mid to high end hotels might also make photocopies of the front and back of your card and keep it on file. My father had his credit card stolen from a hotel while on a training trip out-of-stated (well that's my guess anyway, because he hadn't used the card in months but 24 hours after checking into that hotel, there were illegal charges on his card). Figure the scum of the earth behind the counter making $2 over minimum wage felt they deserved an extra treat.
M1A1xVIKINGxFTW
Active Member
Re: Difficulty Ordering
oh wow......how did you learn all this?odingalt said:
Re: Difficulty Ordering
I specialized in gray market security (or antisecurity) devices for 10 years... I paid for part of my college education and my rent during college building and selling all sorts of devices. Viking360.com is the most legitimate business venture I've ever had. :lol:
Let me tell you something with certainty: it is IMPOSSIBLE to protect your financial and personal information from theft. I guarantee that ANYONE's critical financial or personal information can be stolen (with enough effort). The best thing you can do is be PREPARED for when you DO get hit, and/or do as many pre-emptive things as you can to make it difficult for thieves to drain your account or your life when they do steal and try to use your finances or identity.
Bank with small/local banks when possible (so you can go talk to a real person RIGHT AWAY if you see a problem). Set up low daily/weekly/monthly spending limits with your bank. Call your bank when you need to make large purchases that exceed your limits - then have your limits restored when your purchase is complete. Disable EFT (automatic electronic check transfers) on your checking or savings account if this is allowed by your bank. Pretty much anything that your bank will do for you to make it harder to spend your money - enable those features. It will slow thieves down when they try to steal from you.
Do NOT rely on any sort of 'fraud reimbursement' if you pay using debit card. Most debit cards do NOT come with any sort of coverage that automatically reimburses you in the event your card is stolen and fraudulent charges are racked up! My advice honestly - do NOT even ask your bank to issue you a debit card connected to your checking account. Instead, use a credit card for ALL purchases (and of course EVERY month pay off your entire credit card balance via paper check out of your checking account - not electronic bill pay).
Avoid electronic bill pay where a company is allowed to automatically debit your account every month to pay your bills (cable company, verizon wireless, etc.). Eventually, they will f2ck up and overdraft your account. When you call their 1-800 customer service in India, they will not be helpful and they will not reimburse you for all those bank fees that rack up because they overdrew your account errantly. Do NOT ever sign up for payday loans or any other sort of loan that automatically debits your checking account. There is no way to stop paying these people if you decide you can't make the payments. They will raid your accounts and rack up overdraft fees - literally hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of fees. (Most big banks love to 'fee' you to death - that's how they make money). Possible that recent federal legislation has limited banks' abilities to leverage these fees.
I could rant for another hour on this topic but it's not just identity thieves or criminals you need to protect yourself against - large corporations are just as bad (or worse in some cases!) than a criminal. Criminals look for easy money - they will try to get a few hundred or thousand out of your account and move on. Large corporations want to fuck you until you can't breathe - then fuck you some more, then ask their buddy to jump on and fuck you, and then his buddy's buddy, and so on.
Anyway, services like lifelock may or not be worth it. In some states, it's state law that creditors allow you to 'freeze' your credit for a very small fee. When your credit is 'frozen' (and you can only thaw your credit in some cases with special signature or other pin numbers) no one can issue you new credit. This is another effective way of combating identity theft. Only thaw your credit when you are making big purchases - vehicle, cars, etc.- that require you take out a new line of credit.
Etc.
M1A1xVIKINGxFTW said:
I specialized in gray market security (or antisecurity) devices for 10 years... I paid for part of my college education and my rent during college building and selling all sorts of devices. Viking360.com is the most legitimate business venture I've ever had. :lol:
Let me tell you something with certainty: it is IMPOSSIBLE to protect your financial and personal information from theft. I guarantee that ANYONE's critical financial or personal information can be stolen (with enough effort). The best thing you can do is be PREPARED for when you DO get hit, and/or do as many pre-emptive things as you can to make it difficult for thieves to drain your account or your life when they do steal and try to use your finances or identity.
Bank with small/local banks when possible (so you can go talk to a real person RIGHT AWAY if you see a problem). Set up low daily/weekly/monthly spending limits with your bank. Call your bank when you need to make large purchases that exceed your limits - then have your limits restored when your purchase is complete. Disable EFT (automatic electronic check transfers) on your checking or savings account if this is allowed by your bank. Pretty much anything that your bank will do for you to make it harder to spend your money - enable those features. It will slow thieves down when they try to steal from you.
Do NOT rely on any sort of 'fraud reimbursement' if you pay using debit card. Most debit cards do NOT come with any sort of coverage that automatically reimburses you in the event your card is stolen and fraudulent charges are racked up! My advice honestly - do NOT even ask your bank to issue you a debit card connected to your checking account. Instead, use a credit card for ALL purchases (and of course EVERY month pay off your entire credit card balance via paper check out of your checking account - not electronic bill pay).
Avoid electronic bill pay where a company is allowed to automatically debit your account every month to pay your bills (cable company, verizon wireless, etc.). Eventually, they will f2ck up and overdraft your account. When you call their 1-800 customer service in India, they will not be helpful and they will not reimburse you for all those bank fees that rack up because they overdrew your account errantly. Do NOT ever sign up for payday loans or any other sort of loan that automatically debits your checking account. There is no way to stop paying these people if you decide you can't make the payments. They will raid your accounts and rack up overdraft fees - literally hundreds or thousands of dollars worth of fees. (Most big banks love to 'fee' you to death - that's how they make money). Possible that recent federal legislation has limited banks' abilities to leverage these fees.
I could rant for another hour on this topic but it's not just identity thieves or criminals you need to protect yourself against - large corporations are just as bad (or worse in some cases!) than a criminal. Criminals look for easy money - they will try to get a few hundred or thousand out of your account and move on. Large corporations want to fuck you until you can't breathe - then fuck you some more, then ask their buddy to jump on and fuck you, and then his buddy's buddy, and so on.
Anyway, services like lifelock may or not be worth it. In some states, it's state law that creditors allow you to 'freeze' your credit for a very small fee. When your credit is 'frozen' (and you can only thaw your credit in some cases with special signature or other pin numbers) no one can issue you new credit. This is another effective way of combating identity theft. Only thaw your credit when you are making big purchases - vehicle, cars, etc.- that require you take out a new line of credit.
Etc.
M1A1xVIKINGxFTW
Active Member
Re: Difficulty Ordering
thanks for that info! i will be VERY careful when i turn 18 and get my first real credit card!
odingalt said:
thanks for that info! i will be VERY careful when i turn 18 and get my first real credit card!M1A1xVIKINGxFTW
Active Member
noted.PS3andCOD said:
Ben
Member
A couple people I know have had their cards cloned and accounts emptied because there was a fake faceplate on the ATM machine which copied the cards and a small camera watched them enter their pin number, hence why you should always cover you pin! (not sure if you guys in the US have pin numbers?)
M1A1xVIKINGxFTW
Active Member
We do.Ben. said:
LoveKillzSlowly
New Member
Ben. said:
It's called "ATM skimming"