I like the self-scans grocery stores are using. It's often easier and faster to scan my own items than to get in a clerk-scanned lane. The bad thing is, self-scans also make it easier for credit thieves to rack up charges and get away with it. Since there's no clerk checking IDs on credit card transactions, a thief can easily use your credit card to buy groceries or other merchandise (including gift cards for restaurants and other stores).
It's not just self-scans, but any store that gives shoppers the convenience of swiping their own cards. Convenience usually comes at a price, but identity theft isn't a fair trade off.
What, if anything, do you think stores can do to keep the convenience of self-scanning and self-swiping but keep credit card thieves from succeeding?
Protecting Your Identity
I don’t like self-scan systems, who knows if it’s safe, I don’t think so
John DeFlumeri Jr
you really cant be for certain if self scans are trustable but i do believe that if you make a purchase over 100$ or are buying certain products they wont let you go with out checking your ID
This is very true. If there is nobody there to check ID’s, then it is that much easier for Identity Theft situations.
I love the convenience of self checkout, but this is something I hadn’t really thought about before. Thanks.
Under terms of the card agreements the merchants are forbidden to check IDs(!). So whatever safety you imagine is illusory.
The thing to watch out for with the self-scan aisles are credit card skimmers installed on the devices. With customers accessing the equipment it’s easier to do than with checker-operated equipment.