FR2676293A1 - Bank card and settlement procedure for implementation thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to bank cards which reduce fraud. It concerns a bank card in which a picture (32) of the face of the legal holder of the card is carried on the substrate (10) of the card itself and is appended to the other information (24, 26, 28) specific to the holder and which is already present on the card. In this way, during a transaction, the trader can immediately determine whether the person presenting him with the card is or is not the legal holder thereof by comparison with the picture of the face. Application to business transactions carried out by bank card.

Description

 The present invention relates to bank cards, and in particular a method of using bank cards which allows an increase in the security of payments by bank card.

 A very significant part of the current fraud relating to bank cards relates to the use of lost or stolen cards. More specifically, people who steal or find bank cards use them quickly, within a period of one or two days, that is to say before the disappearance or loss of the card has been indicated to a management center. This use generally relates to the payment of relatively modest value purchases. However, all of these frauds reach very large sums.

 The subject of the invention is the reduction and even the virtually total elimination of this type of fraud.

However, to understand the characteristics of the invention, it is first necessary to consider the nature of bank cards and the course of settlement operations carried out using bank cards. For this purpose, reference is made to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings which represent the two faces of a bank card currently used very commonly.

 As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a bank card comprises a substrate 10. The latter, for example formed from polyvinyl chloride, has properties of mechanical resistance, rigidity, and above all deformability by embossing which allow it to receive information in relief as indicated below. The substrate, after being put into the form of an unspecified card, furthermore comprises authentication characteristics which are of various forms and which can for example include a hologram 12 incorporated into the card. This hologram is practically impossible to reproduce by people who do not have the sources of information allowing their production. Other authentication features can obviously be incorporated.

 Each side of the substrate also carries an impression. Thus, as shown in Figure 1, the front of the card has an imprint that identifies the type of card and the issuing body as indicated by reference 14, as well as a number 16 which is a serial number Map.

The back of the card has an imprint identifying, for example, the issuing bank, as indicated by the reference 18. The imprints on both sides may also include all kinds of information, for example relating to the procedure to be followed in the event of loss. or the use of the card.

 This substrate also carries at least one information readable by a machine. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, this information medium consists of magnetic strips 20. Information can be magnetically coded on these strips, for use by the machine. Although three magnetic tapes have been shown, only one may be sufficient. In addition, there are other information supports readable by the machine, for example an electronic circuit with microprocessor, sometimes called "chip". Such a chip is usually incorporated on the front of the card, in the upper left part of FIG. 1 for example.

 The card also carries human-readable information that cannot be forged when the card intended for a cardholder is drawn up, from an unspecified card. This information is embossed by embossing the card and most often includes a number allowing the identification of the holder and indicated by the reference 24 in Figure 1. This number begins with a number of digits corresponding to the serial number printed on the card and identified by reference 16. The rest of the number 24 is used to identify the card, the holder, etc. This human-readable information further includes the name of the holder as indicated by reference 26, and, most often, the end of the validity period as indicated by reference 28.

 The back of the card also usually includes, as indicated in FIG. 2, an area intended to bear the signature of the holder as indicated by reference 30.

 These bank cards are used for all kinds of transactions, for example the distribution of banknotes by ATMs, transactions with merchants, etc. In the case of ATMs and merchants who have a machine connected to a processing center, transactions generally have a high degree of security since the person presenting the card must indicate a secret code; moreover, the fact that the device is connected to a management center allows verification that the particular card is not on a list of invalid cards because they have been declared by theft or loss or for any other reason. It is not this field of transactions that concerns the invention.

 Other commercial transactions are carried out with merchants who do not have a device connected to the management center, but who have a device that allows verification of the confidential code.

More specifically, when using these devices, the person presenting the card is invited to dial a confidential code on a keyboard, preferably protected, and the machine compares this code to a code which is read on the card. that is to say in the information readable by a machine carried by the magnetic tapes 20 and / or a possible "chip". These transactions have a relatively high security and the invention allows a slight increase in the security of these transactions.

 There is however a third type of transaction to which the invention relates more particularly.

Indeed, in many establishments, in particular those whose transactions relate to relatively modest sums, there is no device allowing either the comparison of the data of the card with data possessed by a management center, or the verification confidential code. We will therefore consider in more detail how this transaction takes place.

 When the buyer wants to make the payment corresponding to a transaction, he goes to a cashier or gives a bank card. The merchant can first check the authenticity of the card by observing the presence and the quality of the authentication characteristics, for example the quality of the hologram 12 of FIG. 1. If this hologram has the necessary properties, the merchant establishes a slip by using the card or by reading the data on this card, the slip normally carrying all the embossed information in relief, that is to say the number 24, the name 26 and the expiry date 28, in plus the amount relating to the transaction. The person presenting the card is invited to sign this slip. The merchant then has the possibility of comparing the signature affixed on the slip with the signature 30 carried on the back of the card.

 Consequently, in such a transaction, the merchant checks the authenticity of the card and then the verisimilitude of the signature. If it is a lost or stolen card, there is no doubt about the authenticity of the card. Only the comparison of signatures then allows the merchant to possibly avoid fraud. As signatures can easily be imitated, the security of these transactions is therefore greatly reduced.

 The object of the invention is therefore to very significantly reduce and practically eliminate this type of fraud, by adding a step which makes it possible to verify, almost without fail, that the person presenting the card is indeed the legal holder. More specifically, for this purpose, the invention adds to the bank card, as described above, an image of the face of the authorized holder. Of course, this image of the face is preferably arranged in a falsifiable manner.

 More specifically, the invention relates to a bank card, of the type which comprises a substrate having at least one security device making it practically impossible to reproduce the substrate, at least one information medium readable by a machine and fixed to the substrate, and information readable by humans, incorporated in a falsifiable manner into the substrate, this information comprising on the one hand data relating to the bank card and on the other hand data relating to the holder of the bank card; according to the invention, the card also carries other information readable by humans and incorporated in a falsifiable manner, this information being in the form of an image of the face of the card holder.

 Preferably, the bank card includes additional information readable by humans in the form of the holder's signature.

 In one embodiment, the image of the face is formed on a thin support which is bonded directly to the substrate.

 In another embodiment, the substrate has a cavity of determined depth corresponding to the thickness of the support of a face image, and the image of the face of the face of the holder is produced on a support which is placed in the cavity so that the external surface carrying the image of the face is at the level of the surface of the substrate.

 In another embodiment, the image of the face of the holder is formed by direct development on the substrate.

 In all of these embodiments, it is advantageous for a security film to be fixed by bonding to at least part of the face of the substrate which bears the image of the face of the holder.

 In an exemplary embodiment, the substrate security device comprises at least one holographic device, placed in a region separate from that which carries the information in relief or in this region itself.

 The information readable by a machine advantageously comprises at least one magnetic strip or a microprocessor processing circuit. In addition, it is advantageous for the machine-readable information medium to be permanently fixed to the substrate so that any attempt at separation causes its deterioration.

 The invention also relates to an unspecified bank card, that is to say a bank card blank, which comprises a substrate having at least one security device making it practically impossible to reproduce the substrate, at least one information medium readable by a machine, fixed to the card, and a sensitive layer formed on at least part of one face at least.

 In one embodiment, the substrate has a cavity of uniform depth.

 In an exemplary embodiment, the substrate security device comprises at least one holographic device.

 The machine-readable information medium advantageously comprises at least one magnetic strip or an electronic processing circuit. In addition, it is advantageous for the machine-readable information carrier to be permanently attached to the substrate so that it will be damaged if the substrate is attempted to separate.

 The invention also relates to a method of payment during a commercial transaction, of the type which comprises the presentation of a bank card by a person, the verification of the authenticity of the card by observing the presence or the quality authentication characteristics of the card, the establishment of a slip bearing information readable by the man and reproducing information readable by the man carried by the bank card, and the signature of the slip by the person presenting the card ; according to the invention, the method further comprises verifying the identity of the person who presents the card by comparison of the image of the face of the holder, carried by the card, with the person who presents the card.

 It is further advantageous that the method further comprises the verification of the signature by comparison of the signature affixed on the slip by the person who presents the card to the signature carried by the card.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows, given with reference to the appended drawings in which, FIGS. 1 and 2 have already been described;
Figure 3 is a view of the front of a bank card in a first embodiment of the invention;
Figure 4 is a view of the back of a bank card according to a second embodiment of the invention; and
Figure 5 is a schematic section of a bank card according to the invention.

 FIG. 3 represents a first embodiment of the invention. In this figure, we note that an image 32 of the face of the holder is affixed to the front of the card.

 FIG. 4 represents a second embodiment of the invention in which an image 34 of the face of the holder is affixed to the back of the card.

 In other embodiments, the image of the face of the holder can occupy another position on the map. For example, on the front, it can be placed in the upper central part of FIG. 3 for example and, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, it can cover the region on which the signature is placed.

Indeed, in the case of bank cards according to the invention, the signature is no longer essential, given that the security obtained by comparison of the image of the face and of the person presenting the card is much more reliable than the comparison of signatures.

 The image of the face 32 or 34 can be produced in various ways. In a first embodiment, a simple photograph, preferably on a thin support, is affixed to the substrate 10 and can be deposited or fixed to it, preferably with application, on the photo and the neighboring part, of at least one security film retaining the photograph in place. In the embodiment of FIG. 3, for example, a security film is advantageously placed over the entire front.

 In another embodiment, the image of the face is affixed in a specially made cavity. There are already many card holders similar to those of bank cards and in which a cavity is made. As indicated in FIG. 5, a cavity 36 of constant depth is produced in the substrate 10. An image of the face, for example a photograph, formed on a support 38 is then placed in the cavity 36 and is maintained by glue 40. Next, a security film 42 is advantageously placed on the image of the face formed on the support 38 and on the neighboring part at least of the substrate 10 of the card. Preferably, this security film covers the entire corresponding face of the card.

In another embodiment, the substrate has at least a portion which carries a sensitive layer. In this case, a photographic reproduction of the face is directly carried out on the substrate. This photographic reproduction is advantageously carried out during the operations in which the relief information 24, 26, 28 and the information coded on the magnetic strip 20 and possibly in a chip are affixed.
In another embodiment, the image of the face is affixed by printing, for example by a color transfer printing process by thermal diffusion, by ink bubbles or laser. In this case, the operation can be produced just before application of the security film and delivery of his card to the holder, using a printing device present in the agency itself which gives his card to the holder.

 In another advantageous embodiment, the card blank simply comprises the printing of the front and a hologram and, possibly, other security devices. At the bank card preparation center, which has the data to be placed on the card, namely the name, the end of the validity period and the number to be written in relief, the information to be coded on the magnetic strip and possibly in the chip , and graphic data representing the face of the holder and his signature (this data being obtained with a camera or with a reader from an identity portrait), the back undergoes the impression of the face and possibly of the signature. Then, a security film carrying a magnetic strip is stuck on the back over the entire surface.

Then, the other operations are executed normally writing of the information in relief and loading of the data on the magnetic tape and in the chip.

 The invention also allows a reduction in fraud in the case of transactions carried out using devices allowing the entry of the confidential code. Indeed, it often happens that fraudsters have not only a stolen or lost card, but also the corresponding confidential code. This code could have been read on the card, or noted during a transaction prior to the theft of the card. In addition, it often happens that people write their confidential code either on the card or on a neighboring document that a thief can find. In these cases too, the invention allows a reduction in fraud. Indeed, the merchant, even if the confidential code is confirmed, can refuse to carry out a transaction if the image of the face clearly represents a person who is not the one who presents the card.

 The provision of an image of the face on a bank card is a very simple technical operation, using only common and well-proven techniques.

 The invention has many advantages. First, it allows a reduction and even an elimination of the most expensive type of fraud. In fact, it corresponds to more than half of all fraud committed on bank cards. These frauds have existed for many years and, despite the efforts devoted to their reduction, they have not decreased considerably despite the significant resources which have been devoted to their reduction.

 The means used by the invention are extremely simple and their management is also very simple.

It only requires operations that are easily accepted by card holders and does not require any unusual operation from them, since the cardholders are already used to carrying cards that carry photographs.

 In addition, the additional manufacturing operations which are necessary are integrated naturally into the normal manufacturing process and do not involve a prohibitive cost.

 It should also be noted that the bank cards according to the invention, by the simple fact that they carry a photographic reproduction of the holder, dissuade people who find or steal such cards from using them; Indeed, these people are almost certain to be identified and therefore to be unmasked from the first transaction.

 Of course, the invention has only been described and shown with the aid of preferred examples and any technical equivalence may be made in its constituent elements without going beyond its ambit.

Claims (8)

 1. Bank card, of the type which includes  - a substrate having at least one safety device making it practically impossible to reproduce the substrate,  - at least one machine-readable information medium and fixed to the substrate, and  information readable by man and incorporated in a falsifiable manner into the substrate, this information comprising on the one hand data relating to the bank card and on the other hand data relating to the holder of the bank card,  characterized in that  - The card also carries other information readable by humans and incorporated in a falsifiable manner, this information being in the form of an image of the face of the card holder.  2. Card according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises additional information readable by humans in the form of the holder's signature.  3. Card according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the image of the face is formed on a thin support which is bonded directly to the substrate.  4. Card according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the substrate has a cavity of determined depth corresponding to the thickness of a photographic reproduction substrate, and the image of the face is produced on a substrate which is placed in the cavity so that the external surface carrying the image of the face is at the level of the surface of the substrate.  5. Card according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that the image of the face is formed by direct development on the substrate.  6. Card according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a security film is fixed by bonding to at least part of the face of the substrate which bears the image of the face.  7. Bank card not given, characterized in that it includes  - a substrate having at least one safety device making it practically impossible to reproduce the substrate,  - at least one machine-readable information medium fixed to the card, and  - A sensitive layer formed on at least part of one face at least.  8. Card according to claim 7, characterized in that it comprises a cavity of uniform depth.