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Pay Your Bill... With a Selfie?

Selfies are part of everyday life -- but now, the credit card company, MasterCard wants to use selfies to help prevent fraud and protect your information.

Mary Maloney has the details.


--REPORTER PKG-AS FOLLOWS--
FORGET A PASSWORD.
MASTERCARD IS LAUNCHING NEW TECHNOLOGY SO YOU CAN USE SELFIES TO APPROVE ONLINE PURCHASES.
THE COMPANY SAYS SELFIES AND FINGERPRINT SCANS ARE SAFER THAN TYPED PASSWORDS.
ESPECIALLY SINCE MANY OF OUR PASSWORDS ARE EASY FOR SCAMMERS TO GUESS.
IF YOU WANT TO USE YOUR PIC TO PAY -- DOWNLOAD THE MASTERCARD IDENTITY CHECK APP.
IT HAS YOU TAKE A SELFIE EACH TIME YOU BUY SOMETHING ONLINE.
YOUR FACE OR FINGERPRINT WILL BE SCANNED TO PROVE IT'S YOU SPENDING THE MONEY -- AND NOT A SCAMMER.
BUT YOU WON'T BE ABLE TO USE THE SAME PICTURE OVER AND OVER.
MASTERCARD MAKES YOU BLINK -- TO SHOW THAT YOU ARE TAKING THAT PIC AS YOU SHOP.
THE FINGERPRINT SCAN IS A LITTLE EASIER.
ESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A NEW IPHONE WITH THE TECHNOLOGY ALREADY BUILT IN.
BUT IT'S NOT JUST MASTERCARD THAT'S LOOKING FOR NEW WAYS TO PREVENT FRAUD.
IF YOU HAVE AN HSBC ACCOUNT -- YOU WILL SOON BE ABLE TO USE YOUR FINGERPRINT AND VOICE TO ACCESS MONEY.
AND MASTERCARD IS RESEARCHING WAYS TO USE YOUR HEARTBEAT AND SCANS OF YOUR EYES TO AUTHENTICATE PURCHASES.
THIS COULD BE THE FUTURE OF PROTECTING ONLINE SHOPPERS FROM FRAUD.
FOR CONSUMER WATCH -- I'M MARY MOLONEY.

Instructional Links

Website Article: Federal Trade Commission, Credit, Debit, and Charge Cards

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0332-credit-debit-and-charge-cards

Website Article: Practical Money Skills for Life, Protect Yourself Against Identity Theft

http://www.practicalmoneyskills.com/personalfinance/experts/practicalmoneymatters/columns/idtheft_8212006.php