Do black lights help detect credit card fraud?

Q: I've heard that black lights can detect fraudulent credit cards. Is that true or just a lot of hocus-pocus?

A: It's true. Fluorescent-tube ultraviolet lights are an inexpensive and easy way to verify the authenticity of credit cards.

That's because portions of all four major credit cards glow under ultraviolet light. Visa's dove logo (similar to the hologram) glows in the center of its cards. MasterCard shows an M and a C at the bottom of the card, with the M in the lower left corner and the C partway across the card. On Novus/Discover cards, the word "NOVUS" appears at an angle across the card. The letters "AMEX" appear in large type across the front of American Express cards.

A quick check under a black light before swiping the card through the credit card terminal will reveal if ultraviolet-sensitive symbols or words are embedded in the plastic.

In fact, retail liaison officers in one suburban Detroit police department swear by them. Troy police encourage merchants to install a black light in the checkout area, out of the customer's view, to test credit cards. Driver licenses, currency and some checks also have ultraviolet-sensitive areas and can be tested with black lights.