FAQs 2017-10-11T13:34:53+00:00

And if it’s not here, feel free to drop us a line

Here you’ll find the questions we’ve often asked ourselves and those questions that many others have already asked of us – plus a few more – along with what we hope will be the most suitable answer.

A ScramCard device is en electronic product with a 9-digit eInk display, capacitive touch keypad, battery, micro-processor and securely interconnected EMV chip.

ScramCard’s products are ISO:7810 compliant meaning they are exactly the same size as the debit or credit card you may hold in your wallet or purse.

ScramCard has spent the last three years developing and certifying a unique EMV chip that allows it to offer uniquely enhanced security and payment features.

The user only ever inputs their secret PIN into the ScramCard device. The device uses the PIN entered to generate a one-time code that’s then used at the POS or ATM as the dynamic PIN for that single transaction.

The contactless payment feature will not work on the ScramCard unless you’ve keyed in your secret PIN to the device. This ensures security AND convenience.

The device uses the PIN input to generate a 3-digit one-time code. This resulting code is used to replace the static CVV2 that’s printed on the back of payment cards.

That depends on exactly how much it’s used but we expect it to be good for up to 7,000 transactions that equates to over 6 transactions per day over the 3-year life of the device.

The price varies depending on whether you are a device issuer or a customer. If you wish to buy a device or wish to know how much devices cost to issue, please contact us to register your interest.

ScramCard is not taking pre-orders or charging customers in advance for a device at this time. We would encourage those who are interested in securing a device to contact us to register your interest.

Yes. Each and every ScramCard device will come with a one year limited manufacturer’s warranty.

Yes. The ScramCard device also has a normal magnetic stripe for use in POS terminals and ATM devices that are yet to comply with EMV.

We’ve been working on this technology for over a decade now and ScramCard was formed to represent the best in breed for electronic display cards.

You don’t often hold a mobile phone sideways so why introduce something people aren’t used to? ScramCard was designed to mimic the mobile phone experience.

No. All codes are PIN generated one-time passcodes (OTP) meaning they contain your secret code within the OTP itself. A separate password to accompany the code is not required.

No. TOKEN generates different codes when the same PIN is used meaning there is no risk of a code generated for one system being used to gain access to another.

No. ScramCard will always generate a code for you regardless of the PIN input. The device will never display that the PIN you’ve input is right or wrong. However, certain features will eventually lock the device after repeated invalid PIN input attempts.

If you or someone else inputs the wrong PIN two times on certain features the device will display “T-LOCKED”. After 20 minutes it will prompt you for the PIN to unlock the device. Failure to input the correct PIN at this time will result in the device being locked and you will need to contact the device issuer to get it unlocked.

UNION consolidates multiple Mastercard accounts within one device such that the device can actually become the Mastercard of choice, depending on which button you press. However, you might also link a few alternative payment cards just like WALLET. This will depend on how the UNION card has been configured for use.

WALLET allows you to link alternative payment cards and/or methods of payment to the device. This allows you to fund transactions using the payment card you want to use rather than being forced to use only the payment cards the merchant will accept.

Unlike card cloning, the WALLET does NOT actually become the card of choice. When you link a payment card to a button on the WALLET you’re effectively providing a mechanism by which to fund a given purchase when using the device with funds drawn from the card you’ve linked to it. The WALLET ensures that funds are available from the funding card of choice before allowing a purchase to be made using the WALLET, wherever Mastercard is accepted.

No. Depending on which button you press, the UNION device actually becomes the card of choice as personalised within the EMV chip on the device.

That depends on which payment card you want to use. The WALLET is not only intended to make life more convenient but to also provide additional security and funding options for purchases, where the card you want to use might not be accepted by the retailer. In that case a small funding service fee may be payable.

Details of all funding fees per type of payment card are provided during the set-up of the device.

No. Any funding service fee would be payable regardless of whether the merchant accepts the payment card you want to fund the payment with or not. Any funding service fee would be payable regardless of whether or not the merchant accepts the payment card with which you want to fund the payment.

Yes you can. However, depending on the card being used for funding, there may be a funding service fee payable.

ScramCard and its partners have strict know-your-client (KYC) processes that include use of 3-D Secure and in some instances a one-time code being used as a reference for the initial funding of selected payment cards. Without this code, the button to which the payment card is being linked will not be activated for the card to be used. Only the legitimate card-holder will have access to this code.

ScramCard has a supporting mobile application (PRE-AUTH) that allows you to pre-authorise the card you wish to make a payment with. Unless the card of choice is disclosed via the EMV chip or mobile PRE-AUTH application, ScramCard will decline the purchase request to protect the user.

This ordinarily depends on the device issuer and so may be configured to work for PINNACLE and TOKEN products. However, the consolidation or linking of multiple accounts for WALLET and UNION effectively increases the funds available on a single device. ScramCard will therefore not fall below the security level of chip and one-time code for any POS transactions, given signature only authorization effectively represents no security at all.

Not necessarily. The supporting ScramCard PRE-AUTH application will have allowed the user to input the resulting one-time code generated by their device and thereby provide us with a virtual chip and one-time code payment request.

No. Each ScramCard device supports its own EMV PIN that is the only PIN you need to remember.

No. Each ScramCard device has its own EMV PIN that generates completely different codes for each card and each transaction.

A secure web portal will allow you to input your payment card details and select which button you want to link the card to on the ScramCard device. Following KYC procedures, unique codes will be provided to allow you to activate each button on the device after which the card can be used to make payments.

No. ScramCard devices work seamlessly with all of today’s payment methods meaning retailers do not have to do anything to accept ScramCard.

No, ScramCard is completely self-contained. It does not require internet access to function properly.

Yes. ScramCard devices are accepted wherever Mastercard is accepted, which is pretty much everywhere.

While being inconvenient, as long as the PIN remains a secret there is no risk of the ScramCard device being used for fraudulent purposes if lost or stolen. However, unless you recover the device you would have to get another one.

While inconvenient to have had your device stolen, the last code you entered in the ATM will be useless to the individual who stole the device as it will have only worked for you. Unless they know the secret PIN for the device its theft is pointless.

Each ScramCard can be bent to a degree, having passed ISO standards laid down for normal plastic card’s physical characteristics, but it is a product with electronic components embedded within it and so due care should always be taken when bending it to avoid bending it too far.

That would be a problem and you would need to contact the device issuer to regain access to your device.

This will depend on the device issuer but we recommend displaying the codes for no longer than 30 seconds.

If you forget the code that was displayed, you just need to re-enter your secret PIN to display another one. The same code can never be displayed twice.

No problem. If you’ve linked payment cards to the WALLET or UNION device you can just as easily (albeit securely) de-link them and link new payment cards.

You will be provided with a PIN when you get the card but as with any other EMV payment card, you will be able to select your own PIN at an ATM.

The range of ScramCard products are international and therefore available anywhere in the world where a bank might want to issue them or a consumer may wish to use them.

The ScramCard devices are accepted wherever Mastercard is accepted anywhere in the world.

Yes, it is only possible to link a maximum of 10 cards but it will depend on the configuration chosen by the brand partner and as a result there may be as few as five cards linked to the device.

You may need your mobile phone with you when using a ScramCard device but that is only if you’re using the WALLET or UNION devices. If using a device with a magnetic stripe, the ScramCard PRE-AUTH app will be needed to help ensure you can complete the transaction securely.

The web portal is also optimised for mobile browsers and so you can set it up on a mobile phone.

If you haven’t been able to find the question you’d like to ask or the corresponding answer, tucked away beneath a slightly different question, feel free to drop us a line with your question here and we’ll do our utmost best to respond back to you with a good answer.

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