It seems that hackers are not the only ones who can obtain bank card data based on guess programs, in order to collect the correct data for payment cards, especially if they have the first 6 digits of the card, which usually contains 16 digits.
Even the owners of websites and electronic applications, or modern phone applications, are now able to obtain banking data in Kuwait without the customer’s permission, but the irony is that this is a project for “Visa” and “MasterCard”, companies and is not classified as one of the attempts to circumvent the security measures of bank cards, as hackers do.
Relevant sources pointed out that according to the instructions issued by Visa and MasterCard to international banks, the owners of websites and applications have the right to share the credit and bank card data of their subscribers, and to renew their membership in these services immediately after withdrawing the value of subscriptions from their accounts without obtaining prior permission or directing them. As long as their cards bear the “Visa” and “MasterCard” logos.
The Al-Rai has learned from sources that this legitimate access to customer accounts is based on the directives of “Visa” and “MasterCard” to international banks to allow merchants and electronic service providers to share the data of customers’ bank, credit and prepaid cards, benefiting from the automated card data update service.
What the sensitivity of these instructions is that the sharing of banking data for Kuwaiti bank customers with merchants and providers of electronic services will not be limited to Visa and MasterCard cards issued by the same bank, as subscription to electronic services and applications will continue even if the customer’s card expires and its number changes, or he moves from one bank to another.
Another, feature is that the old cards bearing the logos of the two companies even if they were canceled and new ones were issued by the bank where the account is transferred, the customer’s data will be automatically transferred to the new card without asking the customer’s permission.
The sources said that if the customer has a subscription with one of the merchants and service providers on websites, or through phone applications such as “Pay pal” and others, and his contract expires, it will be automatically renewed, and the value of the service will be withdrawn from his balance even if he does not request it, and explained that this is achieved if the customer has paid the value of his subscription for the first time through “Visa” or “MasterCard” cards, or any of the prepaid cards bearing the logos of the two companies.
Simply, short and far from any complexity, as soon as the customer uses any of the “Visa” and “MasterCard” cards in the process of paying any of the subscriptions to his applications or the various services on the websites, each electronic service provider and owner of an application that the customer uses, unless contacted, the banking data will be shared in future without his permission, and the registered database will be used automatically, once the first subscription period ends, the customer stops the service if he wishes before renewing his contract.
The sources indicated that there is a supervisory move by the Central Bank of Kuwait towards directing banks to raise awareness among their customers who obtain bank cards bearing the “Visa” and “MasterCard” logos coinciding with the increase in customer complaints in this regard, and the misunderstanding of such withdrawals. They have to bear in mind that this affects all bank customers, whether current or those whose cards will be renewed or those who will issue them.
She explained that the CBK has directed that if the banks, based on the instructions of “Visa” and “MasterCard” regarding continuing to share the data of their card holders, are unable to cancel the subscription of customer services to the owners of websites and electronic applications, or through phone applications from their side it must clearly educate its customers about the instructions of the two companies, provided that this is done in the best possible manner, with the announcement of these developments and informing customers of the measures taken by the banks in this regard.
In practice, there are not many differences between the “Visa Card” and “MasterCard”, both are credit cards, and perhaps the only and main difference between them is the nature of the privileges of each company, which are used by companies or ordinary individuals, such as credit limits, interest rates, and rewards arising from the card.
These privileges are determined based on the bank or financial authority responsible for issuing these cards, noting that the two companies to which these cards are affiliated, “Visa” and “MasterCard”, are responsible for technological payments.
Some other differences may appear, such as the desires of bank customers to use a certain type of card, such as using the Visa card to obtain insurance for rented cars, while the MasterCard card provides other services that many bank customers can or do benefit from.