Payment instrument authorization technique

A method of protecting a payment instrument in non-face-to-face transactions, the payment instrument being issued by an issuing entity and associated with an authorized instrument holder, the authorized instrument holder being subject to authentication by an authentication function, the method comprising:

• the authorized instrument holder communicating with the issuing entity to block, on a default basis, authorization of the payment instrument for non-face-to-face transactions;
• prior to a non-face-to-face transaction, the authorized instrument holder communicating with an authentication function to subject him or herself to authentication and to request that the payment instrument be unblocked for non-face-to-face transactions;
• and
• the authentication function authenticating the authorized instrument holder, and if the authentication result is positive, causing the issuing entity to store the request to unblock the payment instrument for non-face-to-face transactions.

A method of protecting a payment instrument used in transactions, the payment instrument being issued by an issuing entity and associated with an authorized instrument holder, the authorized instrument holder being subject to authentication by an authentication function, the method comprising:

• blocking the authorization for a payment instrument, on a default basis, by the issuing entity;
• communicating by the authorized instrument holder, prior to a transaction or multiple transactions, with an authentication function to subject the authorized instrument holder to authentication and to request that the payment instrument be unblocked for future payment authorizations;
• and
• authenticating the authorized instrument holder, and if the authentication result is positive, causing the issuing entity to store the request to unblock the payment instrument for the authorization of payments for the transaction or transactions.