Reader Offers Tips for Stringing Along Bank-Card Fraudsters

Quick Brief
Following a Guardian Money article about a reader turning the tables on fraudsters, another reader has written in with suggestions for enhancing the experience. The correspondence recommends using legitimate issuer identification numbers alongside check digits and notable UK postcodes when messing with scammers.
What Happened?
In response to a published account of a reader stringing along bank-card fraudsters, reader Gary Calder submitted a letter suggesting ways to add realism to fabricated card details. The suggestions include selecting known issuer identification numbers and utilizing the Luhn algorithm for check digits, as well as choosing well-known postcodes like those for Downing Street, New Scotland Yard, or Windsor Castle.
Why It Matters
The correspondence highlights ongoing public engagement and creative public frustration regarding financial scams, reflecting how victims and readers look for ways to counter fraudulent activities.
Key Facts
- Gary Calder responded via a published letter to an earlier Guardian Money article about turning tables on fraudsters.
- The letter suggests picking known issuer identification numbers for the first six to eight digits of a made-up card number.
- It recommends ensuring the final digit conforms to the Luhn error-checking algorithm.
- Suggested amusing postcodes to use include Downing Street (SW1A 2AA or 2AB), New Scotland Yard (SW1A 2JL), and Windsor Castle (SL4 1NJ).
Compiled from 1 outlet
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