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New credit card security device piloted

Wed, 24 May 2006

A new device aimed at stopping 'shoulder surfers' is being tested by Boots.

Chip-and-pin debit and credit cards have been criticised for the ease with which criminals can obtain a customer's pin number by looking over their shoulder as they enter it.

The new technology involves a magnifying glass which enlarges the display on the ATM keypad, meaning that only the person using the debit or credit card can see it.

Neil Radford, of the University of Warwick, originally invented the device to help the visually impaired use credit cards and debit cards.

Dubbing the device the PED Cradle, Mr Radford has described Boots' trial of the equipment as a "wonderful opportunity".

"The PED Cradle delivers that extra layer of security and improved accessibility in one simple easy to use device. We are delighted that three years of careful and detailed research and product development has won support and interest from the manufacturers of chip &pin terminals, retailers and banks," he said.

Total card fraud, including credit cards, reached £504.8 million in 2004, which amounts to around £1.4 million a day, according to figures from the Association for Payment Clearing Services.

Also in 2004 more than £16 million was paid to reward staff who had retained debt or credit cards being used fraudulently.

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