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Catching counterfeit credit cards
Researchers find way to check magnetic 'fingerprints'
An expanded Web version of segments seen on CNN
May 16, 1997
Web posted at: 9:10 a.m. EDT (1310 GMT)From Correspondent Dick Wilson
ST. LOUIS, Missouri (CNN) -- Researchers at Washington University here have come up with a way to spot counterfeit credit cards by detecting the unique "fingerprint" on the back of each card.
Counterfeiting, which is relatively easy to do, is a billion-dollar problem for the credit card industry. Researchers at the school's Magnetics and Information Science Center demonstrated to CNN how $20 worth of parts from an electronics store can be put together into an effective card-copying device.
They wouldn't allow pictures, but said an original card -- perhaps one that's been stolen or momentarily out of the owner's possession during a purchase -- can be copied onto a blank card in seconds.
Their solution, called the Magneprint system, reads the millions of tiny magnetic particles, which are unique on each card, says Professor Ronald Indeck.
Each magnetic stripe on the card has two important areas. The first looks like a bar code, which contains the account number. The rest is a random pattern of magnetic information -- a signature that is different on every card and impossible to duplicate, Indeck says.
Ron Indeck explains what this technology means (247K/19 sec. QuickTime movie)
Using the Magneprint system, a fake card -- made on the inexpensive card-copying device the researchers built themselves -- is easily detected.
The account information is the same on both cards but the random magnetic pattern -- the "fingerprint" -- is different, said Robert Morely Jr., an assistant professor at Washington University's School of Electrical Engineering.
(256K/18 sec. AIFF or WAV sound)
The inventors say the Magneprint system can be used to stop other kinds of fraud, involving airline tickets, currency, and checks.
It's expected to be made available to card companies later this year.
Check out what's coming up
on next week's Tomorrow/Today
Related sites:
- Magnetics and Information Science Center/Washington University-St. Louis This page will guide you to various research projects -- including the Magneprint system. You can also learn more about magnetic information technology and find out how the projects are being funded.
- Prof. Ronald Indeck
- Asst. Prof. Robert Morely, Jr.
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