GB2175249A - Bank/credit card fraud prevention system - Google Patents

Abstract

A bank/credit card which may be applied to a standard decoder established in retail outlets by the card issuer. The card is designed by code markings, to identify the rightful owner of such a card, by means of alignment to the decoder. The placement of the markings reflect a personal description supplied by the card user, to the issuer, upon application for the card. The periphery of the card is notched in accordance with the descriptors (2) e.g. height, colour, sex, hair colouring, nationality, letters of name, indicated on the decoder. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Bank/credit card fraud prevention system This invention relates to a Bank/Credit Card fraud prevention system.

Cheque or Credit Cards are well known credit fa cilities or tokens issued by various agencies to their customers, as a means of obtaining cash or goods on credit. They are usually made of plastic and bear the issuers name, usually the customers name and number and sometimes his signature.

Some information is raised on the surface of the card by means of imprinting. Cards are frequently lost or stolen and may be used illegally by the finder or thief, to obtain goods or money under false pretences. This is made relatively simple by the fact that the card does not identify the holder otherthan by a signature, which can be forged.

According to the present invention, there is pro vided a card bearing the issuers name and the card holder's number. The cardholder's name can be withheld. A coded description of the customer is given by means of a series of markings imprinted or cut along the edges of the card, which identify the user. Also there is provided a decoder for such markings, which may be established inmillions of retail outlets at minimal cost.

A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 Shows the card carrying coded mark ings 1, along the edges.

Figure 2 Shows the decoder which carry's letters and and figures 2, along it's inner edges which can be read off against the card markings when the card is inserted into the decoder.

Figure 3 Shows the card inserted into the de coder, with one set of card markings aligned against characters of the decoders, giving a de scription of various physical and other attributes of the rightful cardholder.

Referring to the drawing, the system comprises a credit facility in the form of a card as in Figure 1 made from plastic or other material and carrying a coded description of the rightful owner by means of markings along the card's edges. The markings would need to be cut or indented toavoid addition or duplication, and placed in such order to coincide with the characters marked on a decoder, accord ing to the personal details and description of the rightful user. The detail, content, or amount of in formation provided is variable according to practi cality and acceptability to both issuer and customer. The principle remains the same.

For example the decoder as illustrated in Figure 2 is marked along it's inner edges with the follow ing information, expressed either in letters or fig ures as follows : The left hand side gives height in feet or inches between 5' 1" and 6' 4"; Beyond these two extrem ities is described short or tall (S or T).

Along the upper edge is the alphabet giving the holder's name in the form of an anagram. (The holder must give a name when using the card).

Letters used more than once are marked heavily or otherwise distinguished.

The right hand side gives approximate ( or accurate ) age, from twenties to sixties with Y (youth) and P (pensioner), being the two extremes.

The lower edge contains lettering giving other personal attributes, i.e. Male (M) or Female (F), White (W), Coloured (C) and Hair colouring Fair (F) Dark (D), Red or Ginger (R), Grey or White (G) Bald (B) and lastly, Nationality - North American (A) British (B) Commonwealth (C) European (E) Foreign (F).

In order to decode the card it is inserted into, or aligned with the decoder. The particular example illustrated gives a description as follows.

Name (given verbally or in writing) Jennings White Female. Aged 30 to 40 years.

Dark Hair. 5' 7" tall.

American or Canadian citizen.

1. A bank/credit card facility comprising a card bearing the issuers name, the card user's name, and any other reference required by the issuer other than the card user's name, (should a code name facility be desired).

2. A bankicredit card facility as described in claim 1, whereupon are inscribed markings, which supply when decoded, a description of the rightful card user.

3. A bank/credit card facility, as in claims 1 and 2, where the card markings described in claim 2, are cut, indented or otherwise indelibly indicated to avoid addition or duplication.

4. A bank/credit card decoder inscribed with letters and figures to provide reference points on the credit card described in claims 1, 2 and 3 by means of alignment; thus providing a coded description of the rightful card user, according to the placement of the card markings.

5. A bank/credit card facility and decoder as described in Claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein the information or description provided is variable according to practicality or it's acceptability by issuer and card user alike.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (5)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Bank/credit card fraud prevention system This invention relates to a Bank/Credit Card fraud prevention system. Cheque or Credit Cards are well known credit fa cilities or tokens issued by various agencies to their customers, as a means of obtaining cash or goods on credit. They are usually made of plastic and bear the issuers name, usually the customers name and number and sometimes his signature. Some information is raised on the surface of the card by means of imprinting. Cards are frequently lost or stolen and may be used illegally by the finder or thief, to obtain goods or money under false pretences. This is made relatively simple by the fact that the card does not identify the holder otherthan by a signature, which can be forged. According to the present invention, there is pro vided a card bearing the issuers name and the card holder's number. The cardholder's name can be withheld. A coded description of the customer is given by means of a series of markings imprinted or cut along the edges of the card, which identify the user. Also there is provided a decoder for such markings, which may be established inmillions of retail outlets at minimal cost. A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which : Figure 1 Shows the card carrying coded mark ings 1, along the edges. Figure 2 Shows the decoder which carry's letters and and figures 2, along it's inner edges which can be read off against the card markings when the card is inserted into the decoder. Figure 3 Shows the card inserted into the de coder, with one set of card markings aligned against characters of the decoders, giving a de scription of various physical and other attributes of the rightful cardholder. Referring to the drawing, the system comprises a credit facility in the form of a card as in Figure 1 made from plastic or other material and carrying a coded description of the rightful owner by means of markings along the card's edges. The markings would need to be cut or indented toavoid addition or duplication, and placed in such order to coincide with the characters marked on a decoder, accord ing to the personal details and description of the rightful user. The detail, content, or amount of in formation provided is variable according to practi cality and acceptability to both issuer and customer. The principle remains the same. For example the decoder as illustrated in Figure 2 is marked along it's inner edges with the follow ing information, expressed either in letters or fig ures as follows : The left hand side gives height in feet or inches between 5' 1" and 6' 4"; Beyond these two extrem ities is described short or tall (S or T). Along the upper edge is the alphabet giving the holder's name in the form of an anagram. (The holder must give a name when using the card). Letters used more than once are marked heavily or otherwise distinguished. The right hand side gives approximate ( or accurate ) age, from twenties to sixties with Y (youth) and P (pensioner), being the two extremes. The lower edge contains lettering giving other personal attributes, i.e. Male (M) or Female (F), White (W), Coloured (C) and Hair colouring Fair (F) Dark (D), Red or Ginger (R), Grey or White (G) Bald (B) and lastly, Nationality - North American (A) British (B) Commonwealth (C) European (E) Foreign (F). In order to decode the card it is inserted into, or aligned with the decoder. The particular example illustrated gives a description as follows. Name (given verbally or in writing) Jennings White Female. Aged 30 to 40 years. Dark Hair. 5' 7" tall. American or Canadian citizen. CLAIMS

1. A bank/credit card facility comprising a card bearing the issuers name, the card user's name, and any other reference required by the issuer other than the card user's name, (should a code name facility be desired).

2. A bankicredit card facility as described in claim 1, whereupon are inscribed markings, which supply when decoded, a description of the rightful card user.

3. A bank/credit card facility, as in claims 1 and 2, where the card markings described in claim 2, are cut, indented or otherwise indelibly indicated to avoid addition or duplication.

4. A bank/credit card decoder inscribed with letters and figures to provide reference points on the credit card described in claims 1, 2 and 3 by means of alignment; thus providing a coded description of the rightful card user, according to the placement of the card markings.

5. A bank/credit card facility and decoder as described in Claims 1, 2, 3 and 4 wherein the information or description provided is variable according to practicality or it's acceptability by issuer and card user alike.