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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!alice!ark
From: ark@alice.UUCP (Andrew Koenig)
Newsgroups: net.politics
Subject: Re: A new topic -- pressure from the victims
Message-ID: <3981@alice.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 11-Jul-85 17:55:01 EDT
Article-I.D.: alice.3981
Posted: Thu Jul 11 17:55:01 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 13-Jul-85 09:10:16 EDT
References: <1094@ihuxb.UUCP>
Organization: Bell Labs, Murray Hill
Lines: 27

>> Example:  a restaurant that refused to accept a traveler's check
>> unless I showed them my driver's license.

> I would like to know that if someone stole my traveler's cheques, they
> would have a tough time cashing them because they would need to identify
> themselves with a personal photo-bearing driver's license.

>> Example:  these days, when you pay for something with a credit card,
>> the merchant will probably insist that you supply your name, address,
>> and phone number.

> Again, this is to detect the use of stolen cards.

Bull.

When I buy traveler's checks, I am supposed to sign them
as soon as I get them.  When I use them, I am supposed to
sign them a second time in the presence of the person
accepting them.  A traveler's check with the same signature
on it in two places is negotiable.  Someone who is capable
of accurately forging a signature while someone else watches
is also capable of forging a driver's license.

And do you really think that someone who has stolen a credit
card will give a real address and phone number when using it?
Merchants don't try to verify the information, they just demand it.