To Sign or not to Sign the Back of Your Credit Cards?

Trying to reduce the chance of becoming a victim of a credit card fraud, a lot of savvy credit card holders refuse to sign the back of their credit cards. Some customers leave the signature line blank, while others write "see ID". They think that it will prevent the unauthorized use of their credit cards because the criminals won't be able to show identifying documents or falsify their signature without an example. However, this practice is controversial. Let's explore its pros and cons and decide if it is worthy or not to sign the back of your credit cards.

Imagine that you have applied and got approved for a credit card. Your new shiny plastic arrives in the mail along with documents giving you recommendations on how to use your plastic money. The do's and don'ts list instructs you to sign the back of your credit card as soon as you get it. Instead of doing that, many users leave the signature line blank or write "see ID" or some variation of the phrase. They hope that every time the card is used a store clerk will ask their identifying documents, for example a driver's license, and compare the driver's license signature with the signature they provide on the sales receipt.

However, life is not as easy and simple as we hope. First of all, many clerks don't even turn the credit card over due to their carelessness or lack of time. Then, if a clerk reads "see ID", it doesn't guarantee that he will actually ask for your ID. He can just ignore your request.

Moreover, if a clerk sees a blank signature line or "See ID", he can refuse to accept your plastic. As it is stated in your credit cards agreement's terms and conditions, you must sign the back of your card before using it, and your signature is certainly not "See ID". Major credit card companies like Visa, MasterCard and American Express have strict rules that forbid merchants to accept credit cards that do not have a proper signature at the back. So the clerk is supposed to require you to sign the card in his presence before he finishes the transaction.

In case a credit card fraudster steals your credit card and sees a blank signature line, he can sign it himself and recreate the same "signature" on a sales receipt. Your name is printed on the credit card, so it won't be difficult to create something that looks like your name.

In addition, nowadays many credit card scammers don't even bother to falsify your signature. They prefer to make credit purchases online or via phone. In this case the physical credit card is not necessary.

That's why it is better to follow the recommendations of credit card issuers and sign your plastic as soon as you receive it. If you want to have additional security features to prevent unauthorized charges, consider applying for a credit card with your photo on it. These credit cards ensure extra protection since it is unlikely that you and your credit card fraudster will look alike.

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