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From: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath)
Newsgroups: net.misc,net.wanted
Subject: Re: Credit Cards and Holograms
Message-ID: <331@ttidcc.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 9-Apr-85 15:42:59 EST
Article-I.D.: ttidcc.331
Posted: Tue Apr  9 15:42:59 1985
Date-Received: Wed, 10-Apr-85 04:57:21 EST
References: <414@utai.UUCP>
Reply-To: hollombe@ttidcc.UUCP (The Polymath)
Distribution: net
Organization: The CAT Factory
Lines: 26
Xref: linus net.misc:6303 net.wanted:5282
Summary: 

[I tried to e-mail this reply, but the mailer rejected it with "address too
long".]

In article <414@utai.UUCP> perelgut@utai.UUCP (Stephen Perelgut) writes:
>I am interested in the "new" credit cards with all the
>fancy graphics and magnetic strips.  Does anyone know
>(as opposed to suspect) why they use holograms.  I also
>understand that the cards have many other security features 
>such as "invisible ink" verification codes.  Does anyone
>know all the features to expect on a card and what they
>mean?

Holograms are used because they're difficult to duplicate/imitate.  I don't
know what all the other security features of the new cards are, but there's
probably an ANSI standard defining them (ANS X4.16-1976 defines  the  older
mag-stripe  cards).  I do know that American Express cards have had letters
stamped in fluorescent ink on their faces for years -- visible  only  under
an ultra-violet light.
-- 
-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-
The Polymath (aka: Jerry Hollombe)
Citicorp TTI
3100 Ocean Park Blvd.
Santa Monica, CA  90405
(213) 450-9111, ext. 2483
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