Abstract: A transaction card carrying encrypted information for verifying that the card has not been forged comprises a card stock, a magnetic stripe storing account information, a printed or embossed account number and a barcode. It is possible, using conventional point-of-sale terminal equipment and magnetic stripe reading and barcode scanning hardware, to determine whether the account information on the transaction card has been forged. This is done by extracting the account number from the magnetic stripe using a magnetic stripe reader or by entering it manually, decrypting the information stored on the barcode and comparing the decrypted information to a representation of the account number information.