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A dad is the first Briton to get microchipped with a bank card implant — letting him pay with just his hand. Arnie Szoke forked out £350 (KSh 49,000) to have the operation in Germany.
The National Health Service (NHS) healthcare assistant from West London had a safety-pin-sized chip placed into his hand by surgeons and says cashiers and other shoppers were stunned.
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The British man who shares his trips to the shop all over his TikTok channel said the chip uses contactless card technology, with magnetic fields transferring data to readers.
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The user, who aptly goes by @paybyhanf on TikTok, got this process done through Walletmor, a brand specialising in bodily implants that replace physical cards and smart pay methods.
Surgeons opened a pocket in the side of the hand for the safety pin-sized chip — just half a millimetre thick — then stitched it up within five minutes.
By joining a cardless account with Walletmor and inserting its associated implant, he is then able to pay for his goods with the tap of his hand.
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The man showed how he successfully paid for his petrol and WHSmith shop with the implant, much to the surprise of the staff.
The petrol clerk, looking puzzled, even asked the man how he was able to do it, to which he replied, 'magic.'
Father-of-two Arnie said:
The chips are made by British-Polish start-up Walletmor. They expire like a normal bank card, and Arnie’s will need replacing in a second operation in 2029.
So how does it all work? Well, according to its website, you need to set up an account with Walletmor, download the app, and then arrange an installation with a specialist before inserting the implant.
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Payment implants are linkable with Purewrist accounts, which are issued by Sutton Bank in the US. And to use it, you need to top up your account.
You can also use a standard bank transfer, external debit, or credit card to top up your Purewrist account.
The website also says that the Walletmore chip can be used at every terminal that process contactless payments.
While Walletmor says you need to be a resident of the US to use Walletmor through Purewrist, the TikToker told commenters that he had it done in Germany, and it would expire in seven years.
However, he isn't the only lad with his card on him at all times, as Dean Mayhew decided to go the more permanent route – by tattooing it on his arm.
Similarly, a Michigan man, Brandon Dalaly, did surgery and had his Tesla car key implanted at the back of his hand for easy accessibility.
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Dalaly said he was a huge Tesla fan working in technology. The American said he would love it if the chip could be upgraded.
This would not be the first time Dalaly is having an implant to make his life easier. He implanted his house key in his left arm to ease in opening the door.
The implants are hardly noticed, and the hands do not show any signs of surgery.
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Source: TUKO.co.ke
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