Detecting a Counterfeit or Altered Discover Card

Answering the following questions will enable you to identify whether a card presented to you is fraudulent or not:

• Is there a stylized “D” A missing stylized “D” on an embossed card may help you detect a counterfeit or altered Discover card.
• Are the last four embossed numbers different from the last four printed on the transaction receipt?
• Do the embossed letters or numbers show signs of alteration?
• Do the lines of embossed characters appear to be crooked and/or unevenly spaced?
• Does the original signature panel show signs of tampering or is the word “VOID” exposed by an erasure?
• Is the printing of the word(s) “DISCOVER” or “DISCOVER NETWORK” in the signature panel unclear or not tilted at the standard 20-degree angle?
• Is the hologram or holomagnetic stripe damaged or appear to have been tampered with?
• Does the word “DISCOVER” appear across the front of the card when viewed under an ultraviolet light?

Code 10—If You Suspect Fraud If you suspect a transaction is fraudulent or are suspicious of the customer, call 1-800-347-1111 and ask for a Code 10 authorization.

For more information on fraud prevention, such as processing Card Not Present transactions or recovering lost or stolen cards, please consult your Merchant Operating Regulations.