Support NeoGAF

[FinKL]

I just paid a smoothie place in my mall with my credit card and noticed that it didn't swipe correctly so she typed in my credit card into her iPad thing. But what threw me off was she asked for my zip code as well. I know gas self serves require zip codes but do retail POS ones too? I got my receipt and it all looks in order but I'm wondering if I may have potentially got hijacked or I'm over thinking this.

 

[xkramz]

yup its your billing zip code. this is asked almost everywhere online too.

 

[Geist-]

Sometimes. It's not strange at all really.

 

[smoothj]

I think you're fine.

 

[Trouble]

It used to be pretty common, but less so these days. Lots of gas pumps still do, because that's the first place most stolen/found credit cards get used.

 

[Deleted member 22576]

Nope if the card doesn't scan then when the POS person enters it manually it's basically a web form. When you shop online your zip is required. Same deal.

 

[VeeP]

I know when getting gas and ordering off of PSN/etc it ask the zip code, so I’m pretty sure it’s normal OP.

 

[entremet]

You're fine.

 

[hanspampel]

yes.

not all the time, but this is far from unusual

 

[Zoe]

If it had swiped correctly it wouldn't have needed your zip.

 

[Onaco]

Yes because if someone picked it up off the ground and tried to use it, it wouldn't process the order because they don't know where you live. Unless they check the phone directory... then it's flawed. But in America we don't care to put PIN numbers on credit cards because people would bitch too much about having to remember numbers. That or everyone would just do 1234 and 1111.

 

[FinKL]

Thanks overthinking it then! I realize all web orders require zip codes so that's why I was thinking they might have been writing it down or something

 

[Seesaw15]

I think I heard a news report about rouge smoothie women hijacking credit cards . Cut up all your cards,burn your birth certificate and get off the grid for at least 2 years OP.

 

[Dishwalla]

I only ever see this at gas station pumps.

 

[v1lla21]

Normal. Don't do it all the time but sometimes. You're prompted to input your zip code every time you pay at the gas pump too so I don't think of it much. Plus it's a credit card so you're okay.

 

[TaterTots]

Normal. Been dealing with it for 14 years.

 

[KojiKnight]

Worked at a gas station, it was required inside and out. It's an antifraud thing. If someone steaks your credit card, they probably don't know the billing zip.

 

[Shadow Puppetry]

It's normal. It usually asks me at gas stations.

 

[Regiruler]

I input it all the time on the nintendo eshop, etc.

 

[Drkirby]

It is super normal. Most retails POS machines require it if the cashier types the number in, primarily to minimize the risk that they type in the number incorrectly, but still type in a valid number in.

 

[Finale Fireworker]

I never saw this at all in-person until this year. Now it appears on every gas pump around me. It's really just an extra level of data tracking.

 

[KojiKnight]

I never saw this at all in-person until this year. Now it appears on every gas pump around me. It's really just an extra level of data tracking.

No, it's an extra level to prevent someone just stealing your card and filling up at gas stations. Gas stations have huge amounts of credit card fraud. The zip code is only used to verify your card.

 

[Dirca]

I've done it for years here in NC.

 

[Jason Frost]

Sometimes they just want to know where their costumers live.

 

[WillyFive]

Zip code: Yes

Social Security number: Probably not

 

[ChubbyHuggs]

It used to be pretty common, but less so these days. Lots of gas pumps still do, because that's the first place most stolen/found credit cards get used.

Just like it use to be common to ask for your id to make sure it's your card.

 

[FinKL]

Worked at a gas station, it was required inside and out. It's an antifraud thing. If someone steaks your credit card, they probably don't know the billing zip.

And that's exactly it, if somewhere were to write my credit card number down, all they would need is the billing zip so once I said that out loud I did a double take in my head "she already wrote down my CC # giving her the zip means they might be able to get away with it somewhere" but then the cashier doesn't have my card so I just had unreasonable thoughts.

 

[cyress8]

Just like it use to be common to ask for your id to make sure it's your card.

I still do that. Write down your lic # on the invoice too. Helps when you need to dispute a charge back. Had 2 of em this year and can get annoying when it its for 2-3k.