Abstract: A method of verifying ownership of credit or debit cards is disclosed. An apparatus is provided which can compare a biometric representation on the credit or debit card with a biometric feature of the purchaser. For example, the cardholder's fingerprint may be on the card. The apparatus would contain a spot for the purchaser to place the same portion of his finger that was used to create the biometric on the apparatus. The card would be inserted in the apparatus, and the apparatus would compare the fingerprint on the card with the fingerprint of the customer and if they matched, the card would be activated for a limited period of time, or a limited number of purchases. The apparatus may also comprise a remote biometric feature reader, such as a facial scanner or hand scanner.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods securely activate a credit or debit card for a single purchase, a predetermined amount of time, or a predetermined amount of purchases in a predetermined amount of time, while utilizing a portable phone, especially a cell phone, having a card reader. Only transactions using the electronic telephone number and electronic serial number of the cell phone being used, along with preselected information identifying the owner of a swiped card will be authorized to perform credit and debit card transactions, thus providing secured transactions. Current card magnetic strips and possibly magnetic or other type of strips that are smaller in size and closer to the edge of the credit or debit card are serviced.

Abstract: An apparatus and methods securely activate a credit or debit card for a single purchase, a predetermined amount of time, or a predetermined amount of purchases in a predetermined amount of time, while utilizing a portable phone, especially a cell phone, having a card reader. Only transactions using the electronic telephone number and electronic serial number of the cell phone being used, along with preselected information identifying the owner of a swiped card will be authorized to perform credit and debit card transactions, thus providing secured transactions. Current card magnetic strips and possibly magnetic or other type of strips that are smaller in size and closer to the edge of the credit or debit card are serviced.

Abstract: A secure credit card and a method of use of the same is shown. A transactional processing system using the method and the secure credit card of the present invention is also shown. The secure credit card has a first group of numbers or symbols which identify a user, and a second group of numbers or symbols, which may be different from the first group of numbers or symbols, and which represent unique information known only to the user, such information not being placed, or encoded, on the secure credit card in any way, so that it cannot be used in credit card theft and fraud. The position and/or number and/or type of symbols in the second group of symbols, or a combination of these, may be used to indicate to a card reader a unique piece of information (the identified information) to be requested from a user to verify a transaction.