Submitted via IRC for Bytram
Clerk uses photographic memory to steal credit card info from 1,300 customers
[....] In Japan, though, a store clerk has stolen credit card information the old fashioned way: Looking at and memorizing the details of over 1,300 customers, according to local news.
The 34-year-old clerk worked at a mall in Koto City, near Tokyo. Police allege he memorized the 16-digit credit card number, security code and expiry date of customers during the small period of time it takes to complete a purchase transaction. This is all according to a translation by SoraNews of reports from Sankei News and Hachima Kiko publications.
Police added that, after arresting the clerk, they found a notebook containing the credit card details of 1,300 victims, reports ANN News. The scammer, despite apparently having a Sherlock Holmes level of memorization ability, led police straight to him by using stolen credit card information to buy two bags valued at 270,000 yen (approximately $2,500) -- which he then had mailed to his own address.
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Gaaark on Monday September 09 2019, @09:16PM (4 children)
He STUPID smart!
--- Please remind me if I haven't been civil to you: I'm channeling MDC. ---Gaaark 2.0 ---
(Score: 2) by PinkyGigglebrain on Monday September 09 2019, @10:50PM (3 children)
I remember reading that Einstein's wife had to paint the front door of their home bright red because he husband kept forgetting which home was his. It still didn't work all the time :)
"Beware those who would deny you Knowledge, For in their hearts they dream themselves your Master."
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 09 2019, @11:18PM
That’s what I told my wife when she caught me naked in the neighbour’s house.
(Score: 2) by JNCF on Monday September 09 2019, @11:27PM
Funny, I heard the same story about his cousin.
(Kidding -- I'm not sure which wife this story is about, and my brief googling suggested that Albert himself supposedly painted the door.)
(Score: 2) by FatPhil on Tuesday September 10 2019, @08:41AM
In his defence, it was probably made out of ticky-tacky https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUoXtddNPAM [youtube.com]
Great minds discuss ideas; average minds discuss events; small minds discuss people; the smallest discuss themselves
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday September 09 2019, @09:17PM (6 children)
A photographic memory is no real indication of intelligence. Although, his memory was apparently not as reliable as the term suggests. People with really superb memories need no notebook. Bill Clinton doesn't need a notebook to remember the faces and names of people he met only once, decades ago.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 09 2019, @09:20PM
Actually, given the science behind eidetic memory, the notebook makes a lot of sense. cf. https://soylentnews.org/comments.pl?noupdate=1&sid=33530&page=1&cid=891870#commentwrap [soylentnews.org]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 09 2019, @10:08PM (4 children)
Bill "i never had sex with that woman" Clinton?
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 09 2019, @10:24PM
Yeah, him. He was talking about Hillary. At home he's known as "Uncle Bill"
(Score: 2) by Runaway1956 on Monday September 09 2019, @11:00PM (1 child)
Yes, that Bill. He can meet you one time, be introduced, talk for thirty seconds. If he doesn't meet you again for ten, fifteen, twenty years, he can still greet you by name when you see him again.
(Score: 2) by Rivenaleem on Tuesday September 10 2019, @10:32AM
That's a Photogenic Memory. I always remember the pretty ones.
(Score: 2) by Nuke on Tuesday September 10 2019, @09:09AM
Bill forgot he was married.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 09 2019, @09:17PM
Not so much [wikipedia.org]:
(Score: 3, Interesting) by Freeman on Monday September 09 2019, @09:19PM (3 children)
This doesn't sound like an instance of photographic memory. Without more information than the tiny bit of info cnet provided, it sounds more likely, that he memorized one at a time. It's not terribly difficult to memorize that information in a short period of time. Sure, he might have a photographic memory, but there's nothing substantiating that claim. Now, if he did that in one day, I'd be more impressed with his memory skills.
https://soranews24.com/2019/09/08/tokyo-clerk-arrested-for-memorizing-over-1300-customers-credit-card-info-using-it-online/?ICID=ref_fark [soranews24.com]
So, yeah, sensationalist journalism, Japan style.
Joshua 1:9 "Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the Lord thy God is with thee"
(Score: 1) by nitehawk214 on Monday September 09 2019, @10:00PM (2 children)
Exactly. If he had a photographic memory, why did he have to write anything down?
"Don't you ever miss the days when you used to be nostalgic?" -Loiosh
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 09 2019, @10:25PM
Because such a thing does not exist.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 10 2019, @03:54PM
Does photographic memory require that you can remember not only the card, but also which card of which side are connected to each other?
Imho no it does not. So you remember 2 sides of 1300 cards, but you need to be able to know the card number and name and then also the security CCV on the other side of the card aswell.
(Score: 2, Funny) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 09 2019, @09:42PM (1 child)
He can't tell the jury, "uh, I don't remember".
(Score: 2) by canopic jug on Tuesday September 10 2019, @06:28AM
No but he can do it Reagan style and leave it at the carefully worded, "I do not recall".
Money is not free speech. Elections should not be auctions.
(Score: 1, Insightful) by Anonymous Coward on Monday September 09 2019, @11:02PM
The institution identification code makes up about half the digits in a typical credit number, so memorize a list of IICs for popular local banks and you substantially reduce your memory load.
(Score: 1) by fustakrakich on Monday September 09 2019, @11:35PM (1 child)
Can they erase it with a flash bulb thingy? Get it? C'mon, people!
How about a *three strikes and you're neuralized* law?
La politica e i criminali sono la stessa cosa..
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 10 2019, @01:30AM
A flashbulb capacitor discharged to the temples should work. I know for sure they'll kick you backwards about 3 feet and knock you out cold if you touch a charged one.
(Score: 3, Interesting) by ledow on Tuesday September 10 2019, @08:12AM
He has a good memory, that's not difficult.
Try it. Next time you take out your card, memorise the number. How hard is it really? Maybe tricky until you've done it a few times. Now practice on random cards (loyalty cards etc.) for a month and see how good you get.
I work in IT. We have a policy not to show even the IT guys your password. It's partly best practice (we have no need of them to access your stuff, but we also don't need to know what they are), but additionally because otherwise I do end up knowing your password just by you typing on a keyboard in front of me. Yep, even the complex ones.
It doesn't take that much to do.
Not being stupid enough to order stolen things to your home address... that's another matter entirely. Hell, put it into buying Bitcoin or something, and then launder it through the network if you really want to do this. Thank god for stupid criminals.
(Score: 2) by Pslytely Psycho on Tuesday September 10 2019, @11:54AM
Many years ago I took a course in Medical Assisting, there was a gal in my class who was the closest to an Eidetic memory I've ever actually encountered. She could quote whole chapters of the textbooks by paragraph, page number or any other way you could think of. Passed every test 100%.
Then came the clinical exams where you had to utilize what you had learned.
She had no idea. She could stand there and quote what she was supposed to do, but in reality, had no concept of the meaning of the text. She could remember but not apply the information as she had no actual understanding of the material.
She failed. I always thought it would be great to have such a memory, mine sucks galactic weenie, but after meeting and working with her, I think I'll take understanding over perfect recall, after all, being a walking textbook without the ability to utilize the information would be horrifying to me. She sounded so smart until she had to do something, then it all fell apart.
Like the guy in TFA, not smart enough to do even a minimum of self-protection while using their unique talent, shows he suffered the same sort of problem. Remember everything, no idea how to apply it. Probably the last person who should attempt a criminal lifestyle.
Alex Jones lawyer inspires new TV series: CSI Moron Division.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday September 10 2019, @03:43PM
Seems like Lord Nikon was at it again.