Shopaholics could soon have a new partner in crime - a credit card that listens to them.
Researchers have developed a voice recognition device small enough to be embedded in a card, allowing it to recognise its owner's voice, according to the latest edition of New Scientist magazine.

The technology could dramatically cut fraud, freezing cards until a password is spoken by the owner.

Credit card fraud is a growing problem in world economy, and only in Australia is estimated to cost businesses $100 million annually.

In the prototype stage, the card is about three times thicker than normal.