What is an RFID Wallet Shield?
If you travel a lot, or you go out to places where a lot of people congregate, you put your valuable data at risk. How? The RFID chip that’s embedded in your credit cards! In this quick article, I’ll tell you what you can do to protect your valuable credit card data from scammers using an RFID wallet shield.
What is RFID and Why Was It Developed?
RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification, a technology that was created during the 2nd world war to identify airplanes when they were in flight. Using RFID the Allies could tell if a plane was one of theirs or one from the Axis powers.
This could be done whether the plane was in the line of sight or not (which was an amazing tech at the time). RFID was an invaluable advancement that ultimately saved thousands of Allied lives.
What is RFID Used for Today?
The technology to identify planes has progressed substantially since the 1940s, no doubt, but RFID is still used today. In fact, it’s barely changed except for one factor; the size of the RFID receiver. With the advent of computer technology the RFID Chip has been significantly reduced in size so that, today, it fits on the front of a regular credit card.
RFID chips today are so freaking small and thin that you wouldn’t even be able to tell it was there unless you looked up close and personal! Using RFID chips it’s much easier to scan a credit card when you’re using it to make a purchase. (They also put RFID chips in passports for the same reason.) RFID technology is also being used in millions of products to protect them from being stolen.
Why Does RFID Technology Make Your Credit Card Unsafe?
The RFID chip in your credit card sends out a signal when it’s scanned so that your credit card is recognized and your data can be shared with the card company. (Easy peasy!) That also allows the store where you’re purchasing to make sure that the card is valid, has enough credit, and so on. The problem is, as easily as the store scanner can scan your RFID chips, a thief with a portable RFID scanner can do the same (and maybe easier).
Let’s say, for the sake of example, that you’re sitting in a café and working on your computer while you drink a yummy latte. If a criminal were to sit in the booth next to you, and they had a portable RFID reader, they could skim the information from your credit card in seconds. The same thing could happen if you were standing in line to purchase something, sitting in the airport waiting for your plane and many other different scenarios.
What is the Real Risk of Your Credit Card’s RFID Chip being Skimmed?
A “skimmer” is a tool criminals use to read the RFID chip on your credit card. Unfortunately, the amount of credit card skimmers being purchased and used is increasing according to FICO, the credit scoring company. In 2017 they increased by a whopping 70% and another 10% in 2018. (There’s no data yet for 2019, sorry about that.)
However, over the last decade, the technology and systems being used for RFID chips have changed significantly. Today the amount of information that a criminal could skim from your credit card isn’t enough to make an actual purchase. That being said, we all know that criminals are a shifty bunch and are always coming up with new and better ways to steal the data that they need.
For example, there are now new devices called “deep insert skimmers” which are placed deep inside a payment device and steal data when a credit card is inserted. “Shimmers” have also been created to better help criminals in their nefarious undertakings. What that means is that RFID chips and even the new EMV chips can now be compromised.
The good news is that today’s new technology generates a unique code every time you make a transaction with your credit card. Criminals can’t duplicate that code. Unfortunately, what they can do is duplicate the data on the magnetic strip on the back of your card. They can then use that data to make fake magnetic strips and put them on new cards, using these new cards to make illegal purchases. (What the heck, right?!)
How Can You Protect Yourself?
There are several different methods that you can use to protect yourself from RFID scammers and skimmers. Here are the three I like best.
1- RFID Blocking Shield
One of the best things that you can do to protect yourself is to get an RFID blocking shield. This is a credit card-sized device that you put into your wallet, one on both sides of all of your credit cards. This shield is thinner than a credit card so that it can easily slide behind the cards that are already in your wallet and not take up too much space (or make your wallet thick as a brick). RFID blocking shields are convenient and super easy to use. In fact, once it’s inserted in your wallet you won’t even notice it’s there.
2- Don’t Go to High-Traffic ATMs
If a thief puts an RFID skimmer device into an ATM you won’t even know that it’s there. Many times they do this at high traffic ATMs that are not manned 24/7, including banks and in large malls. Also, if you put your credit card into an ATM and it doesn’t seem to go smoothly, take it back out and find another.
3- Cover Your PIN Code Every Time You Use any Device
No matter the device or where it is located, always cover the keypad when you enter your PIN code. You simply never know who is possibly looking over your shoulder. Some thieves even use binoculars and other devices so that you won’t even see them close by!
In Closing
Using an RFID blocking shield is one of the best, safest, and most convenient ways to prevent a thief from skimming your RFID Chip. You could also purchase an RFID blocking wallet or RFID blocking sleeve, which will both do the job just as well. They might be a little more costly, however, and will mean having to purchase a new wallet. (You might love your current wallet and not want to change. I know I do!)
I hope you liked this article and that it gave you the answers you were looking for. If you have more questions, need advice, or just want to leave a nice comment, please do in the space provided. Thanks, and best of luck protecting your credit cards!
