Plastic card vulnerabilities to fraud include alteration and counterfeiting, frauds related to the manner in which plastic cards are issued, frauds that arise out of the manner in which cardholders authenticate their identities when using the card, and frauds that arise out of the way cards are used or misused. Strategies for preventing plastic card fraud involve action by card issuers, by merchants, and by cardholders. There are also technological solutions in the areas of terminal safeguards, protections against card counterfeiting, card restrictions, cardholder verification, fraud detection software, and improved cryptography. The opportunities for the commission of plastic card fraud at the Sydney Olympics stem from a number of circumstances. First, people will be bringing a wide variety of types of plastic cards with them to Australia, many of which may be unfamiliar to local merchants; they may be accepted for use even though they are illegitimate. Second, many coming to the Olympics will not be familiar with some of the English transaction systems, thus making them vulnerable to deception. Third, cards used during the Games will be principally for retail purchases, which is the transaction type most often targeted for credit card fraud. The solution to plastic card fraud, particularly that which may occur at the Sydney Olympic Games, will ultimately depend on the adoption of a range of strategies, both technological and strategic, in which close cooperation will be required among all those involved in providing and using card systems. This includes financial institutions, retail merchants, and individual users. 3 figures and 19 references