as for example automatic teller machines and bank cards used

therewith; or other financial cards such as credit cards, petrol cards

or the like used in combination with processing machines for recording

transactions wherein said cards are used.

Fraudulent transactions and theft wherein financial cards such as

automatic teller machine (OTM) cards, credit cards, petrol cards or the

like are used in, are very common. For example, if a person prepared

to commit fraud gets hold of a credit card of another person (before

it has been cancelled), all he has to do to use the card, is to forge the

card holder's signature which usually appears on the card. Also, if a

thief gets hold of another person's OTM card and learns the personal

pin code of the card holder, he would be able to steal money from an

account if the card has not been cancelled.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a financial

transaction processing system wherein fraud and/or theft is reduced.

According to the present invention a financial transaction processing

system comprises

an identification article in use issued to a specific holder; the

article having recorded thereon certain identifying personal

information of the holder which personal information relates to

or is the holder's signature and/or bodily feature(s) and serves

to identify the holder; and the article optionally having

information recorded thereon which would be required to

process a financial transaction; and

processing means for processing a financial transaction, the

processing means including reading means for reading the

information recorded on the identification article; collecting

means for collecting identifying personal information of a type

similar to that recorded on the identification article, from a

person presenting the identification article for processing of a

transaction; a comparing means for comparing the identifying

personal information obtained from the reading means with that

obtained from the collecting means; and a processing unit

which in use processes the required transaction only when the

identifying personal information obtained from the reading

means corresponds to that obtained from the collecting means.

The identification article may comprise a card. The card may

comprise a card selected from the group consisting of an OTM card,

a credit card and a petrol card.

The card may comprise a card which includes a microchip thereon for

recording the required information on the card.

The information recorded on the identification article which would be

required for processing a transaction may comprise the normal

information recorded on an article of that nature.

The identifying personal information is preferably provided in code

form on the identification article. Preferably the information is

provided in bar code and preferably of the PDF 417 type by Symbol

Technologies Inc.

The identifying personal information may comprise an image of the

face of the card holder. In an alternative embodiment of the invention

it may comprise one or more measurements such as distances

between eyes (from inside to inside, from outside to outside or

combinations thereof); distance from lower lip to line between the

eyes etc.

The reading means may comprise a reader for reading coded

information on the identification article and it may include decoding

means for decoding it. The reader may comprise a PDF 620 Card

Reader supplied by Symbol Technologies Inc.

The collecting means may comprise at least one camera, preferably a

camera for electronically recording images such as a video camera or

a closed circuit television camera. Preferably the collecting means

comprises two cameras provided in positions to record images from

different angles.

The one or more cameras may be used to record an image of the

holder of the identification article. Alternatively or additionally the one

or more cameras may be used to record an image of a person's

signature provided at the time the transaction is about to be recorded.

The collecting means may include coding means for coding the

information collected thereby allowing the comparing means to

compare the identifying personal information in coded form.

The system may also include activating means for activating the

collecting means.

The comparing means may comprise a processor such as a computer

with suitable software to carry out the comparison between

information obtained from the identification article through the reading

means and the information obtained from the collecting means.

The processing unit may include an operating means through which

the processing means may be operated. The operating means may

comprise a key-board.

The processing means may comprise an OTM.

Alternatively the processing means may comprise means suitable for

processing credit card transactions, or petrol card transactions or

similar transactions. The means may be mobile.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a

processing means substantially as described hereinabove.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided an

identification article for use in processing financial transactions which

,. includes thereon in coded form identifying personal information of the

holder to which it is in use issued, the personal information relating to

or is the holder's signature and/or bodily features and serve to identify

the holder.

According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a

processing means which is used in combination with an identification

article to record financial transactions, the processing means

comprising any suitable processing means characterized therein that

it includes display means for displaying certain identifying personal

information in use recorded in coded form on the identification article,

which identifying personal information relates to or is the signature

and/or bodily feature(s) of a holder to which the identifying article is

in use issued and which information serves to identify the holder.

The processing means may comprise an OTM. Alternatively it may

comprise means for processing credit card transactions, or petrol card

transactions or similar transactions.

Preferably the processing means comprises means for processing

credit card transactions, or petrol card transactions or similar

transactions which includes display means for displaying the card

_ holder's signature which is in use provided in coded form on the card.

Without thereby limiting the scope of the invention and by means of

example only, embodiments thereof will now be described with

reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of one financial transaction

processing system according to the invention; and

Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative financial

transaction processing system according to the invention.

Referring now to Figure 1 , a financial transaction processing system

10 comprises an identification article 1 1 and a processing means 12

for processing a financial transaction.

The identification article 1 1 comprises a card such as an OTM card or

a credit card or any other card suitable for use in an OTM machine.

The card 1 1 has the normal information recorded thereon to allow an

OTM transaction to be processed. The card 1 1 also has recorded

thereon certain identifying personal information of the holder to which

it has been issued in use, and the identifying personal information

serving to identify the said holder. The identifying personal

_^ information recorded on the card 1 1 may be in code form, preferably

in bar code form, and preferably in bar code of the PDF 417 type by

Symbol Technologies Inc-

In one embodiment of the invention the card 1 1 may comprise a card

which includes a microchip for recording the required information on

the card.

The identifying personal information relates to bodily features and may

additionally include the card holder's signature. The information

relating to bodily features may comprise an image of the face of the

card holder. In an alternative embodiment of the invention only

certain information relating to the holder's face for example such as

measurements between the eyes, distances from lower lip to the line

between the eyes etc may be recorded on the card.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention the information encoded

on the card comprises the card holder's full name, identification

number, bank account number, address, an image of the card holder's

face and the card holder's signature.

Suitable equipment may also be provided for recording the required

_ information on a card 1 1 .

The processing means 1-2 comprises an OTM which includes a

suitable reading means 12.1 for reading the information recorded on

the card 1 1 ; and a collecting means 1 2.2 for collecting identifying

personal information of a type similar to that recorded on the card 1 1

from the person presenting the article 1 1 for processing a transaction.

The processing means 12 also includes a comparing means [not

shown] for comparing the identifying personal information obtained

from the card 1 1 through the reading means 1 2.1 with that obtained

from the collecting means. A processing unit 1 2.3 is provided as part

of the processing means 12 for processing the required transaction

only when the identifying personal information obtained from the

reading means 12.1 is the same as that obtained from the collecting

means 1 2.2. The other features and workings of the OTM is standard

and is accordingly not described at all or not described in detail in this

specification.

The reading means 12.1 comprises a reader for reading the encoded

information on the card 1 1 . The reader 12.1 may comprise a PDF

620 Card Reader Supplied by Symbol Technologies Inc.

_The collecting means 12.2 comprises a camera, preferably a camera

such as a video camera or a closed circuit television camera for

electronically recording images.. The camera 1 2.2 is used to record an

image of the person presenting the card 1 1 as the person is about to

conclude the transaction. The system 10 also includes an activating

means [not shown] which activates the camera 12.2 to record the

required image. The activating means may be associated with the

reader 1 2.1 to activate the camera 1 2.2 when the card 1 1 is in use

inserted into the reader 1 2.1 .

in a preferred embodiment of the invention [not shown] the collecting

means 1 2.2 may comprise two cameras such as closed circuit

television cameras. The cameras will be located in different positions

to record images of the person about to conclude the transaction from

different angles and thus increasing the chances that a suitable image

will be recorded. Each camera may also include a servo motor [not

shown] for panning and/or tilting the cameras to further ensure that

suitable images are recorded.

Frame grabber and video compression software may be provided to

assist in selecting and recording an image from the recording by the

collecting means 1 2.2.

The comparing means comprises a computer [not shown] with

suitable software to carry- out. the comparison between the images

obtained from the collecting means 1 2.2 and the reading means 1 2.1 .

In use only certain aspects of the images may be compared with each

other such as measurements between the eyes, distance from the

lower lip to the line between the eyes etc.

The processing unit 1 2.3 includes a key board 1 2.4 for operating the

OTM. A screen 12.5 is also provided. The processing unit 12.3 may

be of the type normally used in OTM's.

In use the OTM 12 will not allow a transaction to be processed unless

the identifying personal information on the card 1 1 corresponds to

that collected from the camera 12.2. Once the said information

corresponds, the OTM 1 2 can be operated in its normal way to

process a transaction. If the information does not correspond, the

system will not allow the transaction to be processed. The system 10

thus provides an additional safety feature that only the card holder (to

whom the card 1 1 has been issued) can use the card 1 1 to process

transactions.

The system 10 may also be adapted (preferably through its software)

that should anybody be in a radius of about one meter of the person

submitting his card 1 1 to the. OTM 1 2, the camera 1 2.2 will record

images of two persons. The comparison between the images

recorded by the camera 1 2.2 and that on the card 1 1 will then not be

favourable thereby preventing the transaction to be processed. This

will make it difficult to hold up a person at gun point or knife point

and force him to process a transaction through an OTM. It will also

make it more difficult for a person to look over the shoulder of another

person using an OTM, to see the secret pin number.

Referring now to Figure 2 there is provided an alternative system 20

according to the invention. In this case the identification article

comprises a card 21 such as a credit card, petrol card or the like. In

addition to the normal information required to be recorded on the card

21 , the card 21 also includes the card holder's signature in coded

form thereon. The code may comprise bar code and may be of PDF

41 7 type by Symbol Technologies Inc.

The processing means 22 is similar to a normal processing means for

processing credit card, petrol card or the like transactions. In this

case the processing means 22 includes a reading means 22.1 for

reading the coded information on the card including the signature. A

collecting means [not shown] in the form of a camera for recording

the signature of the person presenting the card 1 1 to record a

transaction is also provided. The processing means 22 also includes

a comparing means [not shown] and a processing unit with a key

board 22.2.

In use the person wishing the transaction to be recorded signs the

documents without having the benefit of seeing the card holder's

signature since this will now be provided in coded form on the card

21 . When an attendant processes the transaction he will insert the

card 21 in the reader 22.1 and the transaction will only be recorded

if the signature on the card 21 is the same as that collected by the

collecting means.

In an alternative embodiment the system 20 may be similar to the

system 10 in the sense that the card 21 may also include an image of

the card holder thereon and the collecting means will then also record

an image of the card holder. The comparison will then be carried out

in a similar way as for the system 10.

It will be appreciated that many variations in detail are possible

-without thereby departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

For example the processing means 22 may in use not include a

comparison means and may be adapted in use to display the signature

recorded on the card 21 . The attendant may then compare the

displayed signature with that provided by the person presenting the

card 21 for processing the transaction.