Abstract: A gift card uses a fraud code stored on a magnetic stripe of the card to prevent fraudulent transactions. When the gift card is purchased at a POS terminal at a merchant location, a gift card account number stored on the magnetic stripe is read, and sent to a gift card system. The gift card system activates the card and generates the fraud code and returns it to the POS terminal, where a card encoder writes the fraud code onto the magnetic stripe. When the gift card is used to conduct a transaction, the transaction is permitted only if a valid fraud code is stored on the magnetic stripe.

Abstract: A method of coating articles comprises providing a plurality of coating dispensing devices at each station in a coating material application line, each device being connected to a common source of coating material. Coating material is dispensed fron only one device while measuring the flow rate of coating material therethrough. When the measured flow rate falls below a predetermined threshold, flow through the device is automatically terminated and switched to another device. Apparatus for practicing the method includes a plurality of dispensing devices connected to a common coating source through respective flow rate sensors. A programmable logic control station connected to the sensors and the devices is used to control the operation of the dispensing devices.