Assumes you like the same drink
Googling the app, seems it is a 2d barcode which also includes the drink you want. So this scam only works if you like the same kind of coffee as the person who's screen you grabbed.
Someone has noticed that the Starbucks' iPhone application can be copied with a screen grab from a neglected handset, enabling the thief to gorge themselves on free coffee*. The payment system relies on reading a bar code from the iPhone's screen, identifying the customer and debiting their account. But the barcode doesn't …
It's an American thing I'm afraid, just being rolled out across the USA but still not available on this side of the pond:
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2011/01/21/mcdonalds_starbucks/
'course, we'll all be using network-branded NFC phones before it spreads over here.
Bill.
For all the comments about how they might as well steal the phone - that's also a far more significant crime, for which the person will be calling the police straight away, and you've got the evidence on you if you get caught. If there's any CCTV there too, you may be found.
But it's going to take a lot longer before they notice a mistake on their account, if they notice it at all - plus they'll first of all likely blame Starbucks thinking they did it by mistake, and will have no way of knowing that someone else did this.
that the barcodes are sequentially generated too, so assuming you can identify the numeric/alphanumeric code that makes the barcode of one of these, you could just add 1 to it, generate a new barcode, repeat ad nauseum as each one of them stops working when someone identifies a problem..
And while Starbucks coffee is pretty dire, I've had a lot worse. And if you make sure only to order the drip coffee, and then at the end of the day, then you get a proper cup of stand-a-teaspoon-up dirt. Tastes like hot shit, but damn does it get you flying... and feeling rather sick..
Watch for "Free Coffee" apps appearing in the Apple Store, and probably quickly disappearing.
Or, try it on a plastic toy phone - print in colour then apply using double-sided Scotch tape.
I suggest: have the customer's portrait/passport photo stored in Starbucks computer and displayed when they order. lf the face that's flashing the (?) QR code is not the face on the screen, then get inqUisitive.
why can't they have a website; "sign up here to get a barcode that you can print out and buy coffee with".
Most people have access to a printer, most people do not have access to an iPhone.
It seems to me that every time I read about some new iPhone app its just a crappy implementation of something you could already do (10 years ago) without an iPhone.