Fraud prevention
View Patent ↗A card reader guide for use in a fascia of a self-service terminal is described. The card reader guide defines a card reader aperture extending in a first direction through which a customer may insert a data card. The card reader guide also comprises: a first protrusion extending (i) along part of the card reader aperture through which a magnetic stripe of the card passes, and (ii) towards the customer, wherein the first protrusion defines a stripe path in registration with the magnetic stripe of the card as the card is inserted by the customer; a second protrusion, opposite to, and aligned with, the first protrusion, and extending (i) along the part of the card reader aperture through which the magnetic stripe of the card passes, and (ii) towards the customer; and a magnetic reader detector located in the first protrusion at the stripe path.
1. A card reader guide for use in a fascia of a self-service terminal, the card reader guide comprising:
a card reader aperture extending in a first direction through which a customer may insert a card with a data storing magnetic stripe to a magnetic card reader;
a first protrusion extending (i) along part of the card reader aperture through which the magnetic stripe of the card passes, and (ii) towards the customer, wherein the first protrusion defines a stripe path aligned with the magnetic stripe of the card as the card is inserted by the customer;
a second protrusion, opposite to, and aligned with, the first protrusion, and extending (i) along the part of the card reader aperture through which the magnetic stripe of the card passes, and (ii) towards the customer, a further portion beside the first and second protrusions providing a customer with the ability to remove the card by grasping a non-magnetic stripe portion of the card; and
an alien card reader detector that detects alien card readers, the alien card reader detector located in a detector cavity in the first protrusion at the stripe path and within a card reader guide cover.
2. A card reader guide according to claim 1 comprising a cover coupled to a shielding plate, the shielding plate being located behind the card reader aperture so that the alien card reader detector does not detect any components within the self-service terminal (SST).
3. A card reader guide according to claim 2 , wherein the shielding plate comprises a plastic material having a conductive coating to prevent metal components within the SST being detected as alien card readers.
4. A card reader guide according to claim 3 , wherein the shielding plate includes an aperture through which data cards can be transported between the card reader guide and a card reader within the SST.
5. A card reader guide according to claim 4 , wherein the shielding plate defines a plurality of apertures for routing cables therethrough.
6. A card reader guide according to claim 1 , wherein a signal generator circuit is located in a signal generator cavity in the second protrusion.
7. A card reader guide according to claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion is located beneath the second protrusion.
8. A card reader guide according to claim 1 , wherein the first protrusion is located above the second protrusion.
9. A card reader guide according to claim 1 , wherein the first and second protrusion extend from the card reader aperture by the same amount as a front edge of the data card extends from the card reader aperture upon being ejected by a card reader, so that the customer must place his or her fingers on the part of the data card that is not enclosed by the first and second protrusions.
10. A card reader guide according to claim 1 , wherein the alien card reader detector comprises a capacitive sensor.
11. A self-service terminal (SST) incorporating a card reader guide according to claim 1 .
12. A self-service terminal according to claim 11 , wherein the terminal includes a motorized card reader.
13. A self-service terminal according to claim 12 , wherein the terminal comprises an automated teller machine (ATM).
14. A card reader guide according to claim 1 further comprising:
a molded plastic cover dimensioned to be accommodated within the fascia, and partially protrude through an aperture in the fascia.
15. A card reader guide according to claim 1 wherein the alien card reader detector is physically configured to conform to the detector cavity in the first protrusion.
16. A card reader guide for use in a fascia of a self-service terminal, the card reader guide comprising:
a card reader aperture extending in a first direction through which a customer may insert a data card to a magnetic card reader;
a first protrusion extending (i) along part of the card reader aperture through which a magnetic stripe of the card passes, and (ii) towards the customer, wherein the first protrusion defines a stripe path aligned with the magnetic stripe of the card as the card is inserted by the customer;
a second protrusion, opposite to, and aligned with, the first protrusion, and extending (i) along the part of the card reader aperture through which the magnetic stripe of the card passes, and (ii) towards the customer;
an alien card reader detector that detects alien card readers, the alien card reader detector located in the first protrusion at the stripe path;
wherein the alien card reader detector comprises a capacitive sensor; and
wherein the capacitive sensor comprises: (i) a transmit plate spatially separated from (ii) a receive plate by (iii) a ground strip defining a longitudinal shape and extending transversely to the card reader aperture and towards the customer.
17. A card reader guide according to claim 16 , wherein the ground strip is aligned with the stripe path.
18. A card reader guide for use in a fascia of a self-service terminal, the card reader guide comprising:
a card reader aperture extending in a first direction through which a customer may insert a card with a data storing magnetic stripe to a magnetic card reader;
a first protrusion extending (i) along part of the card reader aperture through which the magnetic stripe of the card passes, and (ii) towards the customer, wherein the first protrusion defines a stripe path aligned with the magnetic stripe of the card as the card is inserted by the customer;
a second protrusion, opposite to, and aligned with, the first protrusion, and extending (i) along the part of the card reader aperture through which the magnetic stripe of the card passes, and (ii) towards the customer, a further portion beside the first and second protrusions providing a customer with the ability to remove the card by grasping a non-magnetic stripe portion of the card; and
an alien card reader detector that detects alien card readers, the alien card reader detector located in a detector cavity in the first protrusion at the stripe path and within a card reader guide cover, wherein the alien card reader detector comprises a capacitive sensor having a ground strip aligned with the stripe path.