Assignment 7A Testing the Hypothesis

 Credit Card Fraud Through Skimming Prevention

• Opportunity: Each day, card payment users are prone to credit card fraud and identity theft because easy availability to skimming devices grants easier opportunities for skimmers to steal credit card information through card readers.
• The who: Credit/debit card users
• The what: They are prone to credit card fraud and identity theft
• The why: Easy availability to skimming devices allows skimmers to easily steal credit card information through card readers.

• Testing the who: Identity theft is prone to everyone, as thieves are able to manage to steal social security information as well as other personal information through phishing. However, I think that credit card fraud through skimming is targeted more towards card payment users, as they are the ones that skimmers are able to target easily. In which, overall identity theft is open to everyone, but the "who" that share this unmet need of the prevention of credit card fraud through skimming, is more limited to credit/debit card users.

• Testing the what: Skimmers are able to adapt to any changes or preventions, and still manage to find a way to skim users. Not every credit/debit card user experiences the need, as they feel unthreatened to credit card fraud, or avoid using their card. Also, the latest standard in credit card security, the EMV chip, has been beneficial to the security and prevention of fraudulence, though the problem is still evident.

• Testing the why: Credit/debit card users may claim that credit card fraud is an ongoing issue due to the easy accessibility to skimming devices, sketchy locations and unprotected card readers, and the skimmers' motive to steal money through fraud and theft of card information. 

• Interview #1: In this interview with a current UF student, the girl had a preferred method of payment of using debit. She agreed that this opportunity exists, and found that the need was necessary after hearing credit card fraud and theft occur all the time on the news. Though, what raised her concern for the need was when she witnessed a close friend of hers become a victim of credit card fraud. The friend purchased a water bottle at a store in an airport in New York, to then find an unknown charge of $500 on her card later that day. Since then, she has had this fear and extra caution of her surroundings when using her card. She feels that the fact that her friend was skimmed at an airport shows how unpredictable credit card skimming can be in terms of when, where, and why, which is scary.

• Interview #2: In this interview with a current UF student, I was able to discover that the girl's dad deals with credit card fraud on a daily basis in his job. She said that he deals with credit card fraud all of the time, as it is a very common problem. With this, she is scared of credit card fraud and identity theft, seeing and hearing the common issues that her dad has to deal with. She states that although it has never happened to her, she wants to make sure it stays that way, so she is very cautious of where she uses her card. She says that her goal is to not get skimmed, although there is a high possibility that it could happen anytime. In which, she says that it is important to check your balance daily, and catch the problem as early as possible.

• Interview #3: In this interview with a current UF student, the girl prefers credit card payment. She says that although she personally had never been a victim of credit card fraud, she still has a concern and fear of the fraud, after seeing it happen to other people all the time. This interviewee has known many people who have experienced credit card fraud, and has also seen it on many news articles. She states that unfortunately she doesn't pay attention as much as she should, though every time she hears a story about credit card frauds and skimmers, her concern level raises again and she becomes cautious. Though, she does not want to experience the fraud and theft and hopes for a solution so she doesn't have to worry.

• Interview #4: In this interview with a middle-aged male, I was able to discover that he had experienced credit card fraud first handedly. After having his credit card for a number of years, he was blindsided the first time he experienced the fraud, when he noticed a large unknown purchase on his card. He claimed that using his card without any concern or awareness of fraud had previously been a routine for him, until this first encounter of skimming. Since then, he found himself more aware of using his card at sketchy locations. Though, he states that even then, he still found himself being a victim of credit card fraud. He feels that being cautious of where and how you use your credit card is beneficial, but it does not avoid your encounter with credit card skimmers.

• Interview #5: In this interview with a new debit card user, I was able to discover her concerns with fraud even before she got her card. The interviewee had just recently gotten her debit card a few months ago, but had the concern for fraud even before getting the card after seeing some of her close ones be encounter fraud. She said that knowing this raised her concerns about paying with card, so during her first few weeks of using her debit card, she was very skeptical. "I wouldn't insert my debit card anywhere, and if I did, I would try to avoid typing in my PIN with my fingerprint. I don't know, I was just terrified that someone steal my card info." Though, now she is a frequent card user, but she tries to remain cautious. 

•  Post-interview: What do you know about the opportunity that you didn't know before?
• Based on these interviews, I see the correlation of the problem and the concern for the problem. The more the card users hear about the problem happening to other people, the more their concern and caution for their card usage increases. From this, I was able to detect that those who had first handedly experienced credit card fraud or those who personally knew someone who had first handedly experienced the fraud, had a higher concern for the fraud. These were the ones who were more cautious of using their card. Though, I realize that not all credit/debit card users have a concern for credit card fraud because it either has not yet happened to them, or they do not feel threatened. However, it is important to note that all interviewees were aware that credit card fraud occurs all the time.