[19
DEC 00] CITY
CENTRE COMPANY NEWS
Shoppers Asked For
Thumbs Up To Fraud Fight
Shoppers
in Coventry are to be asked to give their thumbprints when they buy goods
by credit card or cheque to try and cut fraud.
An
inkless record will be made of the thumbprint for people shopping at
certain stores in the city centre – particularly those where high-value
purchases are made.
If the
transaction is later found to be fraudulent police will then have a record
of who committed the crime.
People
who refuse to give a print can be asked for another form of identity. They
can be refused the sale if they reject this as well.
The
low-tech solution is being offered to solve the high-tech problem faced by
many Coventry shopkeepers
Chris
Brown, of the City Centre Company, which is behind the idea, said:
"Those
stores targeted by fraudsters committing credit card and cheque crimes
have been offered this facility.
"The
thumbprint signature programme has been used in suburban shopping
centres in other parts of the country with a great deal of success.
"It
is not a universal remedy for this type of crime but it is a no frills,
low-tech weapon in a retailer's armoury to fight offences that cost the
commercial sector millions of pounds a year.
"It
has been noted in other areas that fraudsters stay away from stores
using this system. It is a simple device that allows us to trace those committing
crimes of this type through their thumb prints.
"We
anticipate that it would be particularly effective in outlets selling
high-priced goods, such as jewellers' shops, but it would work equally
well in any store that accepts plastic cards and cheques."
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