When the stripe won’t swipe, it could be a de-magnetized card…or maybe not. It’s up to you to put more action into your key-entered transactions to avoid the possibility of counterfeit fraud.
- Check the terminal to make sure it is working properly. If the terminal is okay and the problem appears to be with the magnetic stripe, follow your company procedures for key-entered transactions. Be sure to check the card security features and match the signatures.
- Check the card’s “good-through” or “valid-through” date to be sure the card hasn’t expired. If the card has a “valid from” date, be sure the card isn’t being used before it is valid.
- Get a manual imprint of the card.
- Ask the customer to sign the imprinted sales draft.
- Compare the signature on the card with the signature on the sales draft to be sure they match. Do not accept an unsigned card! Ask the cardholder to sign the card in your presence, and to provide government ID (driver’s license or passport). Compare the signatures on the transaction receipt, the card, and the additional information.
IF you suspect fraud, make a Code 10 call.
- Call your voice authorization center and say “I have a Code 10 Authorization request.”
- Follow the operator’s instructions if you can do so safely.