UK banks and mobile operators are currently trialling mobile contactless technology which allows users to carry out tap-and-go payments for low-value items. Contactless mobile payments have proven particularly popular among young users, who are keener on adopting new technologies and, the UK Home Office feels, are proportionally more vulnerable to fraud attempts.
The guidelines elaborated by the UK Home Office include provisions which ensure that contactless payment functions, SIM cards and phones are disabled as soon as possible once a contactless payment mobile phone has been reported lost or stolen. Also, additional security measures such as the use of a PIN code will be required for any transactions above the maximum contactless payment value (currently GBP 10). Additional security such as a PINs will also be required if more than a certain number of low-value transactions are carried out consecutively.
Moreover, customer who sign up for a contactless payment phone are to be encouraged to join the National Mobile Phone Register (NMPR), a voluntary database which allows users to enter their phone’s details in order to make it easier for stolen phones to be identified and recovered.
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