MASTERCARD FORCED TO RETIRE THE PIN NUMBER ‘2003’
Famous Rugby World Cup winning date used by overwhelming number of sports fans
MasterCard today announced plans to retire the PIN number ‘2003’, as the upcoming Rugby World Cup in September prompted an overwhelming number of sports fans to reset their PIN code in honour of England’s heroics in Australia more than a decade ago.
The build-up to this year’s tournament has rekindled memories of Jonny Wilkinson’s unforgettable drop goal late in the Final against Australia. The knock-on effect has been a change to the nation’s security preferences in recent months, fans have been scrapping their existing PIN number for the increasingly popular ‘2003’ combination. The added frequency of the PIN gave card thieves an opportunity to try their luck, so MasterCard has moved quickly to address the issue.
Martin Johnson, ambassador for MasterCard and the man who lifted the Webb Ellis Cup in Sydney 12 years ago, explains the decision behind the PIN code withdrawal. “2003 was unbelievable, but MasterCard are absolutely doing the right thing. PIN security isn’t something to be taken lightly. So I’d say to all those people still using PIN number 2003, it’s time to move on – that’s in the past.”
Luke Aggen, spokesperson for MasterCard, stated the company’s intention to tackle the issue head on, saying: “Whilst we appreciate this may cause some inconvenience, security is absolutely paramount for us. It’s also important to stress that we are only banning the one number, there will still be another 9,999 numbers to choose from.”
