The Credit Card Prank: Crazy Signatures
Saturday, 29th July 2006 (by J.D.)This article is about Credit Cards, Funny Money
Here’s an internet classic. John Hargrave at zug.com was frustrated that nobody ever checked his signature when he paid with a credit card. He wondered: how crazy could he make his signature before somebody actually called him on it. The answer? Pretty crazy.
Here’s his regular signature, which he describes as “that of a homeless clown”:
And here are some of the signatures that he used (and was not ever chided for). Note that the last one isn’t even a signature!
His signatures got progressively crazier. He signed with an X. He signed with a stick figure (?!?). He signed with scribbles. He signed as Mariah Carey, Beethoven, and Zeus. Nobody called him on it. He asked his readers for suggestions. He signed “Please check ID” and “Porky Pig” and “I stole this card”. Still nothing.
Hargrave’s story goes on for several pages, until finally somebody checks his signature. But only as he attempts to spend $16,800 on electronics at Circuit City!
It’s a funny read.
[The Credit Card Prank — Don't try this at home.]
[...] John Hargrave at zug.com was frustrated that nobody ever checked his signature when he paid with a credit card. He wondered: how crazy could he make his signature before somebody actually called him on it. The answer? Pretty crazy.read more | digg story [...]
Yeah whenever I buy stuff at walmart or any place that has a digital signature i sign it as an Airplane because it always says “signature accepted”
Only once did a walmart employee look at it, look shocked and then just handed the receipt to me and said have a nice day haha.
Wow, that is crazy. I don’t think I could do that even on the off chance that somebody checked it.
I would probably go bright red and run off…
It usually depends on that amount of the purchases. Credit cards and debit cards are so prominent now, it is not like it was a couple of decades ago when consumers used them only for purchases above $100. Now, they even are used for $10 purchases.
hell I used mine today for 1 dollar
[...] Full story with pictures here [Zug, via Get Rich Slowly] [...]
I have big black letters on the back saying “PLEASE CHECK ID.” Despite that, I’ve bought electronics, $1000 items, and never been carded. Until I tried to buy $10 of gas and a bottle of wine (and they checked my ID for the signature, not my age!).
My wife and I a few years ago used to trade credit cards and see if we’d get carded (never happend, I don’t know any females with my name…) and since I was the elder (21 and could buy beer) I’d often use her card and sign it much the same (I read about his credit card signing YEARS ago) and would sign Elvis Presley, Elvis Lives, HiMyNameIsElvis, Mickey Mouse, or draw pictures (and even when I signed for about five minutes, the clerk never suspected anything…)
I used my credit card for 48 Cents…
Well, do all of you that write that on their cards. I draw a middle finger and write, “if you’re hot, what’s your number” then I have “If not, go shoot yourself” I think the idea of the signature on the back is a joke. Hell, most schools don’t even teach their students how to sign today. It isn’t needed. We type everything. I think a good way to do this credit stuff would be to write “I’m going to kill you if you don’t see my ID” lol OH, I AM SOOOO PUTTING THAT ON MY NEXT CARD!
How about when they forget to ask for your id at all?