Reader addresses credit, debit fraud

Consider a possible way to greatly reduce exposure to credit and debit card fraud.

First - Not signing your name on the cards (contract requires signing). Instead you will take a hard ball point pen (as an engraving tool) and sign the acronym "C. I. D." Technically you are signing in the spirit of the law. Not allowing a copy of your signature for illegal use.

For purchases in person to person you swipe your card (a signature request will appear, you can draw "X," the system will still process your charge, the card companies are not checking your signature because anyone can sign your name. (That is why governments produce proper ID's). It is checking not who you are - but if your account is still valid. Process takes about 3 to 8 seconds. Take out your proper I.D. (driver's license, state, military or passport) and insist the person behind the counter recognize you and your I.D. This action prevents almost 100 percent of fraud before it happens.

Fact that credit cards and debit cards are all transfer of non-secured funds, promising note of credit. That's why all require showing proper authority to embed any kind of debt legally. According to my reading of card contracts, Visa, Master Card and Discover encourage the business not to ask for proper I.D,, allowing fraud to be imposed on its customers as illegal debt because of the time it takes to check a customer's I.D.

Allowing financial harm is outrageous. Unfortunately, stealing your credit and debit card, using it over the phone, Internet, or machine illegally, is not protected. However in the future, by requiring a 10-digit password (and not telling anyone what it is) would help protect card holders. There is not 100 percent in anything, because there are ignorant, incompetent, and corrupt people. So we still need card fraud protection.

Ed Stubington

Moses Lake