That's why I still use traveler checks.
That's why I still use traveler checks.
Yes, use cash whenever possible for minor transactions. That's a pretty good rule even at home these days. At least the banks are pretty good about putting the money back in your account quickly when this happens.
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We have had our credit card info stolen TWICE on trips to Jamaica .............. however it happened when we stayed overnight in CHICAGO for an early morning flight out of O'Hare ............ both times the CC company caught the fraud the next day when the thief started to use the card info .............. they let all the charges from Jamaica go through for our 2 week vacation but killed all other activity ................. it pays to call you CC company ahead of time and tell them your plans for being out of the country ! ! !
It could be the new RFID technology. This stands for Radio Frequency Identification and is basically a wireless way to connect to card readers.
If anyone has cards that are capable of being used by tapping or just scanning in front of a card reader instead of being swiped or having to use a PIN, your credit card info could be stolen right out of your pants pocket or purse.
If your credit cards read “Paypass”, “Zip”, “Paywave” or “Express Pay" or something similar on them, then they have an RFID chip imbedded which can be read from a distance under the right circumstances and with the right equipment. Then your card info is transferred to an RFID blank card and the thief is in business.
US Passports issued after 2006 supposedly also have this technology as well as some state driver's licenses. My Michigan DL stated that it does not contain this technology. How about yours?
This may or may not be what happened in these instances; but, if I had these kinds of cards, and I don't thankfully, I would be asking my credit card issuer to send me a new one without that technology.
We have had credit card info stolen and used as well BEFORE this RFID technology, so certainly this may have been the case.
It's a good idea when traveling to use Travelers' Checks, if you can find them, or only bring cash, or only bring credit cards that don't have this new RFID chip. But, hey, this stuff can and does happen at home as well.
Never give your debit card to someone else to take and scan for you (restaurants), always use your PIN when using your debit card, obviously protect your PIN number from the scrutiny of others.
Check your credit card statements frequently (I do ours every week), balance your credit card statements every month to ensure that the charges are legit, tell your card issuers when and where you are traveling if out of the country, set up alerts on your credit cards that will let you know by text or email or whatever that a over a certain limit has been charged or a foreign transaction has been charged.
It's up to each of us to be as vigilant as possible to protect our credit from being used by someone else. You have worked hard for your credit; don't allow some thief to screw that up for you.
Well said Weathermon. I work in tech and was experimenting with RFID back in 2005 (professionally). Back then we could read up to 15 feet away and the card could be in a purse, wallet or a backpack. Imagine the range in todays world. There are ways to safeguard yourself. Getting a non chipped or non tap card is the best idea but more and more banks are forcing you to take what they give. There are several RFID blocking wallets and sleeves out there on the market. A good and cheap way to block the RFID is to simply wrap your cards in a little tin foil. It will reflect the signal. You could also take a hole puncher to the chip in your card but be careful not to crack the whole card in half.
I wonder how much trouble a merchant would give if you offered a card that had a hole punched out. I was just sent a card at has a chip... I still have yet to put it in my wallet.Originally Posted by craigandjen
surprisingly not that much since the magnetic strip still works. I have a close friend that does this with all his cards and has yet to be refused service. He uses a drill to damage the chip. Ive seen others simply drive a nail through it.
If anyone is interested heres a link to amazon.ca offerings in RFID wallets
http://www.amazon.ca/s/?ie=UTF8&keyw...l_2mky6d4hz9_e
You could try the Griswold RFID card protection and place a piece of folded aluminum foil in your wallet in one of the pockets for bills when the wallet is completely opened. Then, when the wallet is folded, whether you have a bi-fold or trifold wallet (men), your cards would be on the inside of the aluminum foil and protected from any scanning attempt. A woman's wallet should be about the same, although I have never carried one. Very far. They never match my outfit.
That would very likely work Weathermon. Or if you want to be completely sure you could use RF reflective mylar
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