If you’re looking to overcompensate with your (fake) credit card, then this might be the best money you’ll ever spend…
In this post:
Steel Skins creates “replica” prestigious cards
In the battle for wallet share, credit card issuers have put a lot of effort into card aesthetics over the years, from using metal for the card material, to having limited edition designs.
While there are quite a few premium credit cards nowadays, there’s a tier above those cards, which are typically invitation only. Easily the most famous is the Amex Centurion Card, often referred to as the Amex Black Card. There are endless social references to it, and it’s very much a larger-than-life product.
Well, if you’ve ever wanted an Amex Black Card without getting an invitation or spending the money, here’s your opportunity… sort of. There’s a company named Steel Skins, which creates “replicas” of prestigious cards.
Essentially, any existing debit or credit card can be redesigned to look like one of several premium credit cards.
Pricing ranges from $209.99 to $429.99, depending on the card you want, with options including the Amex Centurion Card, the JP Morgan Reserve Card, and the Dubai First Royale Card.
The way this works, you mail them the card that you want to be converted into one of these premium cards. Once the company receives the card, they’ll transplant the EMV chip and transfer the magnetic stripe information onto the replica card, with your details engraved.
The card is then supposed to work like any other card, except it won’t have a contactless payment option. Still, it should work for all point of sale machines, as well as ATM machines.
Let me be entirely clear here — I’m writing about this because I find it equal parts amusing and pathetic, and not because I think anyone should spend their money on this. For that matter, I can’t imagine this company will be around very long, as this clearly violates the copyright policies of banks.
I don’t understand credit card “flexing”
Look, I absolutely love credit cards. But the reason I love them is because of the great rewards that they offer, and not because of any ability to “flex” based on the type of card, or the design. I’m not here to judge those who get invitation only credit cards, because in some cases the cards offer decent perks, which may justify the annual fee to some.
However, there’s also no denying that a lot of people get these kinds of cards because they want to flex when they make purchases… and that’s something I’ll never be able to make sense of.
Look, I’m an introvert, and in many ways, I’m not cut out for society. I don’t particularly enjoy small talk with strangers, and I certainly don’t want to impress them.
I don’t understand the psychology of going somewhere and wanting to convince people that one is loaded. I feel guilty enough going to the grocery store and spending X amount on food, and thinking how long the check-out clerk has to work to be able to afford to feed their family. I certainly wouldn’t walk out feeling any better if I thought “gosh, I hope that clerk realized how loaded I must be to be paying a $10K annual fee on a card.”
And that’s also what makes this concept even sadder. It’s for people who think “maybe I should spent $259.99 so that I can convince strangers that I spend $10,000 per year on a credit card.” On second thought, that basically describes Miami society in a nutshell.
So this is probably all a “me issue.” I mean, we live in a world that idolizes people like Kim Kardashian (or at least did — it seems her stock might be down a bit?). This TrustPilot review of Steel Skins is probably more in line with how many others feel:
Never expected a simple card have such an effect on people, waitresses and workers change their attitude once I pull out the card lmao.
Bottom line
There’s a company that essentially converts any debit or credit card into an invitation only credit card, by transplanting the EMV chip and transferring the magnetic stripe to your choice of special cards. I can’t imagine this company won’t face some lawsuits soon over this, but in the meantime, goodness, I feel like this might just be a new low with flexing…
What do you make of this “replica” card concept?
If you want to flex on a budget, you can just buy a fake centurion sticker/skin from Amazon for like $5-10.
Surprised AMEX isn't all over this right now. The name "AMERICAN EXPRESS" and the centurion symbol are copyrighted. Unless this group originates in China (total disregard for copyright) or Nigeria (no law at all), AMEX has a gaggle of lawyers chasing this down and issuing cease and desist letters like crazy.
What I don't understand is why people would not pay the annual fee to get the real one and the benefits. Consider the CSR card for example, after the annual travel credit which is used toward any travel purchase then the balance is around what you're paying. Card flexing is for people that want to be materialistic and brands matter to them. The truth is some of the prestegious cards do not have an overall...
What I don't understand is why people would not pay the annual fee to get the real one and the benefits. Consider the CSR card for example, after the annual travel credit which is used toward any travel purchase then the balance is around what you're paying. Card flexing is for people that want to be materialistic and brands matter to them. The truth is some of the prestegious cards do not have an overall good return but are good for certain types of purchases and certain benefits.
A lot of people can’t qualify for an Amex Centurion card of their own because they can’t/don’t do enough spending of the right sort on Amex cards of their own in the market of relevance to be short-listed and approved for a Centurion card.
You have to be *invited* to get the black card. The spend requirement per month is insane... and only speculated what that amount it.
I've had the centurion for over 20 years now, and frankly I don't think anyone gave a F...(or maybe people expect you to spend more in tips / stuff than you actually do)
Some of the richer guys I know have the green one and they're very happy with it. I guess spending their summer on a 230' yacht gives you enough self confidence anyway.
Same here no one sees cards anymore. I only kept it and still do for the perks which are also not as great.
The card is definitely my idea of a much worse value than it use to be even just 10 years ago. They hiked the fees like crazy while the affiliated loyalty program benefits are not as beneficial as they used to be when the annual and AU fees were a lot lower.
I’m betting that a certain ex C-list actress has a handbag full of these cards.
It will be the only way that she can ingratiate herself upon her remaining A-list acquaintances.
It is sad when one is so inadequate that you feel the need to commit fraud.
Real centurion cards, depending on the country it's issued, have a unique 3XXX number. I know what the US and UK ones are, the fakes won't have a real centurion account number.
Whats the point of this anyway? Work hard and get the real thing.
Buy one and charge the cost to your Amex card.
This isn’t the first nor will it be the last. There are a couple of other companies that I’ve seen doing the same thing.
How dumb would someone need to be to pay 200 for a credit card skin lol
You can use that to access the Lufthansa First Class lounges in FRA/MUC. They don't scan the card, just look at it. These fake cards will 100% pass.
Lufthansa has the names of the passenger on the boarding passes. If they hit Amex with a list of entrants that make no sense to Amex, chances are that Lufthansa has enough data to help nab at least some of those engaged in such fraudulent access.
Amazed that no comment so far realize this.
Amex owns the card.
This could very well be misuse of their cards, therefore Amex can shut you down.
"I’m writing about this because I find it equal parts amusing and pathetic"
If the parts are equal, then I have to say its a bit sad you're that amused by this. It might be a slight bit amusing but its immeasurably pathetic.
If my Centurion Black fake is sufficient to get a store to completely close while I shop, then it's a good party gag to have
Sadly, your ‘handle’ says it all.
So $260 for the service, plus they make an extra $1000 selling your credit card info. What a great biz for these guys.
A friend of mine used to manage a Rolex store. He once commented that those tithe the Black card often were the one who least “looked” the part. Think wearing board shorts and tshirts to drop money on a $10,000 watch.
Heaven forbid someone wear a T-shirt to the watch store!
Yeah because those with real wealth don't feel the need to show it off.
This is very sad. Tacky, and sad.
"I don't understand the psychology of going somewhere and wanting to convince people that one is loaded."
I also don't understand why people flaunt their wealth! As if a Rolex is significantly more accurate than a Timex Quartz watch.
And this brings me to a tricky question: why does Ford always (?) pose in extremely expensive branded clothing? (For example, Loro Piano sweater >2000 USD; Missoni shirt >300 USD; Moncler jacket >1700 USD). Isn`t...
"I don't understand the psychology of going somewhere and wanting to convince people that one is loaded."
I also don't understand why people flaunt their wealth! As if a Rolex is significantly more accurate than a Timex Quartz watch.
And this brings me to a tricky question: why does Ford always (?) pose in extremely expensive branded clothing? (For example, Loro Piano sweater >2000 USD; Missoni shirt >300 USD; Moncler jacket >1700 USD). Isn`t that somewhat comparable to paying with an Amex Centurion to show off?
I don't understand it and it`s an honest question. (Apologies if it comes over provocative). It's not about comfort, is it? But to each his own.
@ Lennard S -- Happy to address that, as you're right, Ford does like fashion.
First of all, as is always the case when I write on the blog, I'm speaking for myself. Ford is my husband, and we're opposites in many ways (including our differing appreciations for fashion), and that's part of what we both like about our relationship. Ford makes his own money, and he has a certain amount of what he makes...
@ Lennard S -- Happy to address that, as you're right, Ford does like fashion.
First of all, as is always the case when I write on the blog, I'm speaking for myself. Ford is my husband, and we're opposites in many ways (including our differing appreciations for fashion), and that's part of what we both like about our relationship. Ford makes his own money, and he has a certain amount of what he makes that he sets aside to spend on things he like, which I'm fully supportive of, and have no part in. I do know he takes great care of his things, and wears them for years (it's why our closet space is distributed roughly 90/10). ;-) You obviously have a much better understanding of what he's wearing than I do. :-)
Second of all, the point of this post wasn't to say that people shouldn't have nice things, or that people should only get the most basic form of everything. While it's not for me, I can appreciate that for many, fashion is a form of expression. I think that's a little different than just wanting to pay with a card because people know the annual fee is high.
I don't know Ford, or where he poses (neither do I care).
I do agree that the sentence "I don't understand the psychology of going somewhere and wanting to convince people that one is loaded." is borderline saying "I don't understand human psychology".
Ben has travelled extensively. Surely he has noticed the obsession many people have with labels, and surely he has also realized that obsession has nothing to do with actual quality...
I don't know Ford, or where he poses (neither do I care).
I do agree that the sentence "I don't understand the psychology of going somewhere and wanting to convince people that one is loaded." is borderline saying "I don't understand human psychology".
Ben has travelled extensively. Surely he has noticed the obsession many people have with labels, and surely he has also realized that obsession has nothing to do with actual quality (a very cheap and nasty fake Gucci bag in the night market in Bangkok is there because there are buyers.
Personally, I am not into that, but I also appreciate that many people are, and for many people that is a way to validate their worth. Specifically with credit cards - I'd advise anyone against sending a credit card to strangers.
If you've ever worn luxury clothing, particularly bespoke luxury clothing, you'd understand.
High-end watches are sometimes considered a store of value that is both readily transportable and has global options for being liquidated relatively easily to get your hands on money.
Have you not seen people wear last year's elite tags?... usually sad OPM flyers for whom airline status defines their identity.
Or that jerk that pushes aside the disabled while raging to be first on the plane because 'he' spends lots of money on the airline.
People flex in weird ways.
I have my Braniff tag. Is that okay?
Assuming they don't have the company's permission to use their brand/logo, let's see how long it takes them to be shut down.
I am still using my bmi Diamond Club Gold tags from around 20 years ago and my Delta Platinum tags from Mullins years at Delta.
Oh people will know it’s fake when it gets declined for being over limit.
Won’t Amex try to shut this off as an infringement on Amex’s intellectual property?
About real Centurion cards, there is a market for people to sell Centurion AU cards to people who wouldn’t otherwise have a Centurion card issued by Amex. Some people pay the Centurion primary account members $5000-$25000 to be added as an AU with an AU Centurion card in their own name for reasons that range from trying to impress others to...
Won’t Amex try to shut this off as an infringement on Amex’s intellectual property?
About real Centurion cards, there is a market for people to sell Centurion AU cards to people who wouldn’t otherwise have a Centurion card issued by Amex. Some people pay the Centurion primary account members $5000-$25000 to be added as an AU with an AU Centurion card in their own name for reasons that range from trying to impress others to finding the benefits valuable in their own right to wanting to subsidize the Centurion primary account member.
The market is full of all sorts of characters.
Oh, sure. But, until that happens these clowns can collect your cc data...
Sorry to ask in this venue, but you what happened at Flyertalk with your account?
I was told they banned the account because of illegal hacking or something like that which they claimed was related to mentions on other sites or emails or private messages about Mod Dos or moderator actions or something like that. Before that the word was that they wanted to ban me for illegal stalking, but that claim too was meritless.
Some of the moderators there had been trying to get me banned for years despite...
I was told they banned the account because of illegal hacking or something like that which they claimed was related to mentions on other sites or emails or private messages about Mod Dos or moderator actions or something like that. Before that the word was that they wanted to ban me for illegal stalking, but that claim too was meritless.
Some of the moderators there had been trying to get me banned for years despite my having violated no rules on the site during the most recent constructive 20+ years and 80K+ posts. That’s going back even from when Ben/Lucky posted in this thread:
https://www.flyertalk.com/forum/communitybuzz/680057-flyertalk-posting-legend-2.html
Over 15 years ago:
“someone gets jealous and you get defrocked”.
I was told even 6 months after I stopped posting on the site — which was around Halloween 2023 — some moderators are still going after me and obsessed with posts about me and from me. But some of them have been stalking me in their own ways for a decade or even more than double that in some cases.
That's crazy, isn't the primary card holder ultimately repsonsible for the AUs? What if the person runs up a huge bill, and I'd have to imagine that with a Cent Amex "huge" in this case can be well into the 6 figures, and just ghosts them?
You can ask Amex to set a limit to the card.
The primary is ultimately responsible for the balances due on the cards under the account. The primaries seemed to limit the amount of spend authorized on the AU cards, get fronted money as a buffer or to cover the authorized spend amount, or have family or business ties that mitigated the risks of being ghosted or left with huge balances unpaid by the AUs in such circumstances.
Not my thing personally but let's not forget a large chunk of the world wears fake name brand jewlery and has counterfeit luxury handbags, shoes, ect.
Rolex, Louis Vuitton and Ferragamo are the most copied luxury brands on the planet. Doesn't seem far fetched for them to have a fake black card.
I have a work-issued Visa card from a US bank that is a metal card. It's not infrequent that I have to explained to confused cashiers abroad that it is a normal Visa card, not an Infinite or an Amex, and that their card machine can accept it. I would rather have my credit cards be more discrete, if anything.
Also, most small businesses outside the US don't accept Amex. How would the conversation go:...
I have a work-issued Visa card from a US bank that is a metal card. It's not infrequent that I have to explained to confused cashiers abroad that it is a normal Visa card, not an Infinite or an Amex, and that their card machine can accept it. I would rather have my credit cards be more discrete, if anything.
Also, most small businesses outside the US don't accept Amex. How would the conversation go: "I know it says Amex on here it but it's actually a Mastercard...."?
Lastly, as others have pointed out, there's nothing stopping this company from copying down your card details during the "conversion"...
This just seems like a terrible idea all round, lol.
Using such a credit card skin is like being insecure about the size of your (personality). But, if one must, CuCuCovers dot com will make a credit card skin for about $5 or $6. Personally, I prefer Disney and Peanuts images. :-)
The Amex Centurion Card is a mug's charge card. Anyone who truly understands how the benefits work wouldn't want the card. (I saved screenshots of them all.) Many of the services are outsourced and available directly for a lower overall cost. Certain benefits mandate booking via Amex Travel . . . at unfavorable prices and an 1x earning rate. And, all too often, the Centurion Concierge tasks a local concierge (e.g., hotel) to actually do the work.
Fools and their money will always part.
This is so dumb. Everyone knows that if they're not offering a Delta Reserve option, it's a joke.
Now, now. Even card-skinners know that the Delta Reserve is too premium to possibly consider replicating. It's like trying to recreate a Rembrandt with a crayon.
This is seriously pathetic and you'd have to be hugely insecure to use something like this. I also had an experience many years ago where I went with a friend to a game at Madison Square Garden - he (an investment banker) was invited to meet some clients who had a suite. It was a very casual meeting, and the client who had the suite turned out to be from one of the big Omani...
This is seriously pathetic and you'd have to be hugely insecure to use something like this. I also had an experience many years ago where I went with a friend to a game at Madison Square Garden - he (an investment banker) was invited to meet some clients who had a suite. It was a very casual meeting, and the client who had the suite turned out to be from one of the big Omani oil families. His daughter was there too, maybe 25 years old or so, and at one point tried to order additional catering for the suite. She went to pay and gave a credit card I had never seen - it was a Mastercard, had all these crazy colors, and clearly from a Middle Eastern bank. The Mastercard logo and her name were encrusted with diamonds and other jewels. Turns out it was a custom issued card by their private bank. The bewildered look on the suite attendant's face was hysterical. The funny thing is she was a really sweet girl and this was in no way intended to show off or be ostentatious. It was just another card in her wallet, and my friend and I were the only two who saw this exchange. Even funnier was the card wouldn't go through, so my friend ended up using his very underwhelming work-issued Amex Platinum. That was the only time I have ever given a "woah" to something like a credit card.
Cease & desist incoming, surely? C’mon now, this is just sad
Love your position on this. I guess I'm glad it never even occurred to me that "flexing with your credit card" was a thing. How shallow and insecure a person do you have to be to even think like that? If you're doing this you definitely fall into the "ugly American" stereotype, whether you're traveling or not.
There are a LOT of ugly Americans...sad to say...
The funny thing is, if there was a cheaper option to have just a custom design on the card, I might consider it just for fun. But I could never imagine paying 200 USD, especially just to make it look like another card.
Also, if you are doing this, you need to use an Amex or else the card number will not line up on the back and whenever you pay, the machine will...
The funny thing is, if there was a cheaper option to have just a custom design on the card, I might consider it just for fun. But I could never imagine paying 200 USD, especially just to make it look like another card.
Also, if you are doing this, you need to use an Amex or else the card number will not line up on the back and whenever you pay, the machine will say 'Visa' or 'Mastercard' or whatever when you pay.
Also, I know the US is a bit behind with banking stuff, but does anybody use the magnetic stripe anymore? Even inserting the chip is only usually quite high volume transactions.
The only non-contactless payment I have made in the past year was when I got a new card that I had to activate once.
I can't imagine paying for a card that lacks contactless payment functionality...
If they’re willing to skirt the law and ignore trademarks, why won’t they also store a copy of your magnetic information and sell it off on the black market?
thankfully, the card issuers have a famously jovial sense of humor about their intellectual property...
Insecure product for insecure people.
@Ben the fact that you don't see the appeal in something like this, and your ability to empathize with service workers rather than wanting to place yourself above them, just shows you are secure in who you are and know what's actually important in life. That's a good thing.
Would you send your credit card off to some unknown company, via US Mail? That's just asking for trouble.
Who still flex in this day when most of the people pay via apple pay or google pay?
Having held the black card for years now, I quite like the discreet side of going to shops and just using my phone without being too "loud" about it.
My money is my money, no one needs to know.
Money talks: wealth whispers
For what it is worth, the colorway of those fake cards look pretty solid and I kinda wished it was the real deal
If ever fraud is committed as a result of getting one of these Fauxmex cards? It's going to be a denied claim and Amex is likely going to laugh at the cardmember. Giving someone access to your card like this is not going to end well.
What’s even worse is that the $250ish you spend to “convert” your card will only last a couple years, as you’ll be issued a new card once your current card expires.
Just swap the chip again by yourself and you're good to go.