Experts Warn Consumers of the Increase of Skimming Scams

(Newswire.net — October 25, 2016) Tallahassee, FL — Today, many driver’s licenses, passports and credit cards are embedded with the radio frequency identification chips (RFID). While this technology is believed to offer added protection to credit cards, it seems that fraudsters continue to do the best at what they do.

Experts warn consumers against the increasing prevalence of skimming scams. RFID-enabled credit cards can be susceptible to fraudsters who use RFID card skimming devices or apps. The chips wirelessly transmit data when they are activated by an RFID reader.

The RFID technology is supposed to make financial transactions easy and safe. Credit card owners can even make a purchase without swiping their card. The drawback is that anyone who has an RFID reader can have the chips activated and obtain information from the cards.

In the recent years, hackers have revealed how a simple handheld RFID reader can easily skim financial or personal information from the credit or debit card of consumers. What makes this reader even more intriguing is that it can work even if the victim and thief are several feet away from each other.

Card skimming devices can easily be purchased online. They are inexpensive and are easy to use so anyone can pretty much steal credit card information. There are even apps that enabled tablets and other gadgets to read and scan credit cards.

Fraudsters can obtain the name and country of origin of the victims from their passport. They can also collect whole credit card numbers from consumers. The stolen information may be used by fraudsters to make purchases or take a loan in the name of the victim.

There are ways to combat thieves and one is to simply do the preventive measures recommended by experts. It can be helpful to wrap credit cards with aluminum foil. This is one of the easiest and popular methods in warding off credit card theft criminals.

Aluminum foil is believed to be effective in blocking the signals from card skimming devices. This method is easy and cheap, and can be conveniently used inside wallets.

There are also products such as the set of RFID blocking sleeves, which are thought to be helpful for consumers. These sleeves work by protecting debit and credit cards from fraudsters by blocking the signals from RFID reading devices or apps.

Many consumers find these sleeves extremely helpful, especially those who usually go through crowded places such as subways to work or reach their destinations. The set of RFID blocking sleeves can be purchased at amazon.com.

(http://amazon.com/rfid-blocking-sleeves/dp/B0150T0AI2).