Identity Theft-Proof Yourself

Stop RFID Pickpocketing Before it Happens

Society has a love affair with charge cards, and who can blame them. The conveniences allowed through the use of that plastic in your wallets and purses are amazing. Think back to your great-great grandparents and how they would have appreciated the conveniences afforded them by a piece of plastic that alleviates the need of carrying any other form of currency. Of course there are those who would blame their poor financial state on these same charge cards, but the holder of the card has to accept responsibility for their debt decisions as well.

From business charge cards to airline charge cards, we can’t seem to get enough of them. That is until they are maxed out, or the monthly fees become too much to bear. If those were our only concern, maybe we would be able to tolerate them. However, we must always be vigilant against those who are constantly trying to steal our credit card information and use them for their own means. This introduces us to an ever growing problem of credit card and identity theft.

Technology has brought us a lot of benefits, but technology in the wrong hands can bring a lot of grief. Technology can be used for good as we have seen in our everyday lives. It can also be used for evil. There are those who strive to work hard and make an honest living, and then there are those who try to steal from those who are trying to make an honest living. If you have a credit card or debit card, you’ve probably heard a lot either online or in regular media about skimming.

You’ve probably heard stories about people whose credit card or debit information were stolen through high-tech or low-tech methods and the accounts robbed. We have been warned about not using ATMs in certain locations that may be more prone to credit card or debit card skimming mechanisms. The criminals must have heard these reports as well because they come up with a new and extremely high tech method to steal your credit card and debit card information. This new high-tech method is called RFID pickpocketing.

What is RFID pickpocketing? It is a way that criminals can steal your credit card or debit card information simply by walking by you. It is also known as high-tech hijacking. Thieves are now able to steal your credit card information without laying a finger on your wallet. It all centers on Radio Frequency Identification Technology. It’s supposed to make paying for things easier. You’ll find it in everything from your passport to your credit cards as well as your debit cards. It is leaving over 140 million people at risk for electronic pickpocketing.

There was a special report on News 3 showing how easy a stranger can walk by you with a special RFID technology item and in no time they can have your credit card information without even touching your wallet. It is kind of scary how high-tech crime is becoming. Electronic pickpocketing is going to be the method of choice for criminals in the future. Why should they bother to steal your wallet or purse when they can inconspicuously get your information without you even having the slightest clue?

In case you weren’t aware, all US passports issued since 2006 have RFID technology implanted in them. Imagine what a criminal who is able to steal your passport information, debit card or check card information and your credit card information. Imagine what they could do with this information. The technology that makes it possible to steal your information is available online for around $100. In the wrong hands no one is safe from this technology. If a criminal went into a large crowd, they can steal untold information from an untold number of people, all without the victim having the slightest idea of what has happened to them.

What can you as a consumer do to combat this? How can you protect your credit card and debit card information from this new and invasive identity threat possibility? Checks Unlimited has come out with a line of wallets and accessories that feature specialized RFID blocking materials. The new SecureMyID products from Checks Unlimited will help stop scanners from accessing credit card information. SecureMyID™ Wallets and Accessories