Paying by Selfie just got one step nearer as Mastercard launches biometric payment service in Europe, to save customers time when shopping online
It started with online shopping, then Touch ID and fingerprint scanning, and contactless payments are fast becoming the common place as the way we buy things constantly changes.
But now Mastercard have announced it will be offering another option – payment by selfie – with the service, called ‘Identity Check Mobile’, now rolling out across Europe.
Instead of entering a pin, Mastercard now allows you to hold up their phone and snap a photo when they reach the checkout of online stores.
The thinking behind it is that it will speed up the shopping process, because it’s easy to forget a password or type it incorrectly.
When using the option a pop-up will ask you to confirm your identity when you reach the checkout, and users will have the option to choose either fingerprint scanning or facial recognition as their confirmation.
A photo of your face won’t actually be taken – instead the scanner will map your face and turn it into a code that will be sent to Mastercard as confirmation.
Users will be asked to blink once as part of the scan, preventing identity thieves from simply using a photograph to gain access to your account.
Mastercard has been trialling Identity Check Mobile in the Netherlands and North America, now it is being rolled out across 12 countries in Europe including the UK.
