Electronic Pick Pocketing/Wireless Identify Theft

treeman on 17/01/2016 - 12:46
Last edited 17/01/2016 - 12:48

With Credit Cards with chips for pay wave these days my parents talked to me about a so called huge problem coming to Australia already prevalent in some countries overseas where the criminal uses a device to scan your purse/wallet/hand bag as you walk passed them. They then have your data stored so they can use it to purchase various goods on the internet etc.

Is there any truth to this?

They also said I need to get something to protect my card like a special wallet or something to protect your card.

I feel they may have been watching Today Tonight and ACA a little too much but maybe I'm wrong.

Any information would be great.

Thanks.

General Discussion

Comments

  • supnigs super skids on 17/01/2016 - 12:57
    +1

    I thought it wasn't possible when you have multiple cards placed together but I remember a post saying it can be done

  • Davo1111 on 17/01/2016 - 13:01

    yeah its possible. The thing is credit card companies accept the risk due to the low withdrawal value and easier methods to acquire numbers

    • datafellows on 17/01/2016 - 18:48

      Me as a CC user might very easily miss this type of activity in my account…

      Some other people might notice that something is wrong after few years and then it is too late.

  • [Deactivated] on 17/01/2016 - 13:07
    +1

    Yes this is possible, and it has happened to a lot of people I know. It was all sorted in the end though, with the banks replacing the cards and negating the fraudulent debits, even if you cannot avoid the inconveniences of not having a card for 2 weeks, changing PayPal and direct debit details, etc.

  • kipps on 17/01/2016 - 13:55

    Not only possible, but rather easy:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vmajlKJlT3U

    • [Deactivated] on 17/01/2016 - 15:01

      Old Mythbusters were going to look at how extractable RFID data was, Adam Savage describes the exploratory phone call with Texas Instruments

  • mini2 on 17/01/2016 - 14:29
    +2

    Instead of a tinfoil hat, your cards will now need a tinfoil case :|

    • DarkOz on 17/01/2016 - 14:35
      +2

      I don't see why we can't wear the tinfoil hats and store the credit cards in it at the same time. 1 stone 2 birds :)

    • gimli on 17/01/2016 - 16:53

      I wonder if new wallets will be made with tinfoil functionality

  • DarkOz on 17/01/2016 - 14:33
    +1

    It's not a real problem at the moment but the risk is rising when criminals are catching up with the new techs.

    That's why there are special wallets being sold that prevents card signals from being scanned.

    The scanning takes place within centimeters so if you are being careful don't let anyone put a bag right next to you wallet. Because the bag is where is scanning equipment is hidden in.

    Some banks let you disable oversea purchases on your credit card so you should have it disabled and only enable it when you need to.

    Lastly the banks will simply reissue you a new card and cover the fraudulent payments IF you report it to them as soon as you can.

    • datafellows on 17/01/2016 - 18:51

      I'm pretty sure a proper reader can read the chip more far than few cms away.

      Thieves just increase the power knobs to 11 ;)

  • sareth on 17/01/2016 - 19:48

    I have a steel multitool in my wallet; will this stop it?

    • [Deactivated] on 17/01/2016 - 20:08
      +4

      If you stab them: Yes

      Otherwise: No

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