A wireless device can store account identifiers and facilitate transactions. The wireless device can be loaded with user account identifiers and can be presented to various checkpoint devices. When presented, the wireless device can transmit a selected account identifier to the checkpoint device. In the context of a purchase transaction, the checkpoint device can be a point-of-sale terminal and the account data can be financial account data. In some instances, the wireless device can also facilitate a purchase transaction, e.g., by obtaining information about products to be purchased, constructing a purchase order from the product information, and transmitting the purchase order to a point-of-sale terminal.

Embodiments are generally directed to systems, devices, and techniques to authenticate unauthenticated users to perform sensitive actions.

Disclosed herein are system, method, and apparatus for detecting a skimmer via a vibration sensor on a transaction card. The method includes receiving, at a server, from a user equipment, vibration information recorded by a transaction card in response to an execution of a transaction at a point-of-service (POS) terminal of a plurality of POS terminals using the transaction card. The vibration information may be recorded by a microphone or an accelerometer on the transaction card while the transaction card is swiped through the POS terminal or inserted into or removed from the POS terminal. The method includes determining, at the server, a state of the POS terminal based on the received vibration information and in response to a determination of the state of the POS being compromised, sending to one or more stakeholders of the transaction a warning message containing the POS terminal information including the POS terminal’s state.

A wireless device can store account identifiers and facilitate transactions. The wireless device can be loaded with user account identifiers and can be presented to various checkpoint devices. When presented, the wireless device can transmit a selected account identifier to the checkpoint device. In the context of a purchase transaction, the checkpoint device can be a point-of-sale terminal and the account data can be financial account data. In some instances, the wireless device can also facilitate a purchase transaction, e.g., by obtaining information about products to be purchased, constructing a purchase order from the product information, and transmitting the purchase order to a point-of-sale terminal.

A system for error detection and notification that a storage medium of a first card is defective comprises an apparatus and a first server. The apparatus is configured to receive the storage medium of the first card. The apparatus comprises a first processor configured to receive data from the storage medium as the storage medium is inserted into the apparatus, wherein the received data is encoded into the storage medium. The first processor is configured to determine that the received data is incomplete and display a first output requesting authorization to issue a second card. The first processor is configured to transmit data to a communication network, wherein the transmitted data comprises user input authorizing issuance of the second card and requested data associated with the first card. The first server is configured to verify issuance of the second card, wherein the first server is communicatively coupled to the apparatus.

Systems, methods and apparatus are provided for light-based authentication of a payment card. The payment card may include a randomized mix of materials. The materials may include transparent or translucent materials. A light source may shine light on a surface of the payment card. Light passing through the card may generate a light pattern that is unique to the payment card. The light pattern may be captured and compared to a reference light pattern to authenticate the payment card. In some embodiments, photodetectors may detect light patterns generated through interactions with the card materials.

A data attack detection system that includes a record host and an orchestration host. The record host stores account information for card holders. The orchestration host includes a switch interface configured to receive transaction information for a card from a network. The orchestration host further includes a velocity trap engine that stores received transaction information for the card in a cardholder file. The velocity trap engine creates entries in a velocity transaction timestamp record for the card when the number of transactions for the card in the cardholder record within a first predetermined time interval exceeds a first activity level threshold. The velocity trap engine discontinues a transaction flow between the orchestration host and the record host for the card when the number of transactions for the card in the velocity transaction timestamp record within a second predetermined time interval exceeds a second activity level threshold.

Disclosed herein are system, method, and apparatus for detecting a skimmer via a vibration sensor on a transaction card. The method includes receiving, at a server, from a user equipment, vibration information recorded by a transaction card in response to an execution of a transaction at a point-of-service (POS) terminal of a plurality of POS terminals using the transaction card. The vibration information may be recorded by a microphone or an accelerometer on the transaction card while the transaction card is swiped through the POS terminal or inserted into or removed from the POS terminal. The method includes determining, at the server, a state of the POS terminal based on the received vibration information and in response to a determination of the state of the POS being compromised, sending to one or more stakeholders of the transaction a warning message containing the POS terminal information including the POS terminal's state.

An example method may include transmitting a noise signal through a reader connection of a magnetic reader element. The control component and the magnetic reader element may be associated with a card reader device of a transaction device, and the magnetic reader element may be configured to read a magnetic strip of a transaction card. The method may include receiving, from the magnetic reader element, a reader connection signal from the reader connection. The reader connection signal may include the noise signal. The method may include extracting, from the reader connection signal, a card information signal associated with the transaction card from the magnetic strip. The card information signal may be extracted based on the noise signal. The method may include performing an action associated with the card information signal.

An MR sensor structured to detect whether or not magnetic data are recorded in a magnetic stripe of a card having first and second tracks may include a first resistor and a second resistor serially-connected with each other and disposed at positions where the first track is passed; and a third resistor and a fourth resistor serially-connected with each other and disposed at positions where the second track is passed. The second resistor and the fourth resistor may be connected with a power supply, and the first resistor and the third resistor may be ground grounded. A potential difference between a first midpoint between the first resistor and the second resistor and a second midpoint between the third resistor and the fourth resistor may be an output of the MR sensor.