Comments
We've come a long way, baby....
My signature is, at once, very distinct and very, very hard to forge. Back in the day, that was important enough that I was taught by a retired FBI handwriting expert.
Today??? I don't even get to sign my name when using my credit card. Just a PIN to be entered is supposed to be secure.
My signature is, at once, very distinct and very, very hard to forge. Back in the day, that was important enough that I was taught by a retired FBI handwriting expert.
Today??? I don't even get to sign my name when using my credit card. Just a PIN to be entered is supposed to be secure.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 05/21/14 at 10:19 AM
Even if you did sign, the cashier would look at neither the card or the recipt. I used to write "SEE ID" on the card and draw a smiley face on the receipt. No one cared.
Posted by BHicks on 05/21/14 at 07:34 PM
A 'signature' has to be neither a name nor legible. It should be unique, recognizable, and secure.
There was a guy named 'Check' (or some such) whose signature was only a check mark. The unique aspect came in the color used on the day the signature was made.
I've had my checks & paperwork ripped up because someone thought I'd scribbled on the 'dotted line' and I have had it recognized after a 20+ year gap after having just seeing it once way back when.
There was a guy named 'Check' (or some such) whose signature was only a check mark. The unique aspect came in the color used on the day the signature was made.
I've had my checks & paperwork ripped up because someone thought I'd scribbled on the 'dotted line' and I have had it recognized after a 20+ year gap after having just seeing it once way back when.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 05/21/14 at 11:19 PM
Myeah, but this thing claims to protect the amount, as well. If effective, that would have been a real benefit in the time, and under the circumstances, where a '0' was easily added. Just turning 100 dollars into 1000... nice profit! And no going back on the deal, Expat, because your distinctive signature was definitely on the check...
(Another security measure used to be the endossing of the check with the amount in words, which isn't as easily manipulated, but not all checks allowed for that.)
(Another security measure used to be the endossing of the check with the amount in words, which isn't as easily manipulated, but not all checks allowed for that.)
Posted by Richard Bos on 05/22/14 at 09:59 AM
Commenting is not available in this channel entry.
Category: Crime | Technology | 1920s