topic Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . . in Community Chat

Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

beach-mom — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:31:33 GMT

Yesterday my bank card was compromised. The bank e-mailed me, and someone had made purchases originating from Beijing and a number of places in the states. We got it straightened out, but now I'm going to be extra cautious.

A while back I ordered these little metal cardholders from here. (I'm not sure if they're available any longer, but our local Hallmark has them.) I use them for mostly organizing - shopping membership cards in one, restaurant cards in another, but after yesterday I put my bank card in one.

So which cards do you think are important to protect (all plastic):

Bank cards - obviously

Bank credit cards - same

Gas cards

Department store credit cards

Membership cards - to EVERYTHING!

What do you use? Do you use an RFID wallet? TIA!

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

Moonchilde — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:37:24 GMT

I had my ATM card compromised twice in 7-8 months. I learned the hard way to NOT use it ONLINE. My bank caught it both times. Such a PIT*.

I bought the cardboard covers, but honestly I found them a real pain - they won't fit every card, and they definitely won't fit in all wallet slots. The more you use them, they also get a bit dinged up.

So when QVC had the two-size set of RFID wallets, I bought them. No worries now, no fit issues. I much prefer the wallets to the cardboard holders.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

Kachina624 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:44:16 GMT

I think most cards being compromised is not due to them being scanned but they pick up the info some other way. I've had it happen a couple times, caught by my bank and only a small amount was taken apparently as a trial. They were also Asian companies that I'd never heard of.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

bri20 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:50:05 GMT

I use one card specifically for online orders.

I don't use the ATM, and I pay with cash at the gas station.

I don't have an RFID wallet or card holder.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

ChynnaBlue — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:51:37 GMT

None of my cards have an RFID chip, so I don't use an RFID wallet or RFID sleeves.

If I ever do get an RFID card, I will take those protective measures but right now I am now worried.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

PhilaLady1 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:59:42 GMT

That's scary ! What a pain - sorry this happened to you. I only carry in my wallet 1 credit card and 1 debit card that use only for ATM withdrawals. I am so paranoid when I take money out, even if the machine has that extended cover up thing over the keypad, I still cup my hand over the other hand when entering my pin.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

bonnielu — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 18:58:55 GMT

Adding a question to your question or comment.

RFID protection: I have the new chips on my card. I am not sure the RFID protection is necessary. Does anyone know. I understand about the OLD cards, but the new ones, doesn't seem to need them.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

Stormygirl — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:05:43 GMT

I use the RFID wallets and both our banks call if anything questionable is charged and dont let anything go through until they speak with us. One of my banks I have to call them if I go away on a trip or my card wont work out of the area. I use PayPal if paying for anything online. Many of the scammers and those who steal identities and cards are from China, the very same place that practically owns the USA and also where most items we now purchase are made. That should alarm and also infuriate most people!

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

Noel7 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:09:26 GMT

I bought the wallet where the entire wallet is protected, that way you don't have to worry about which ones to protect and you can still see all your cards.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

Noel7 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:13:54 GMT

This is the set I got. I gave one to my daughter, kept one for myself.

Choice of colors:

F11914

$28 for both.

http://www.qvc.com/Travelon-RFID-Embroidered-Wallet-Set.product.F11914.html?sc=F11914-SRCH&cm_sp=VIEWPOSITION-_-2-_-F11914&catentryImage=http://images.qvc.com/is/image/f/14/f11914.001?$uslarge$

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

Snowpuppy — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:19:04 GMT

I only have 2 cc's and 1 debit card. I only carry 1 cc with ne for emergencies. It stays in a secure compartment in my vehicle.

I don't carry my cc in my wallet into work. My office is open & others are in & out all day.

I've gone to cash withdrawals & use cash at the gas station & grocery. Great budgeting tool.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

Moonchilde — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:28:53 GMT

I too use Paypal online wherever it's available, instead of giving my individual card #s to websites.

My bank told me that most of the time currently (as opposed to a few years ago, when it was largely gas pumps that were the culprit) it's from online use. It was in my case. All it takes is one dishonest employee in an otherwise honest business.I now often use my ATM debit card as a regular CC in person, requiring a signature, not as a debit card. Also, although I'd rather not, I use my CCs for online purchases instead of the debit card. You are more protected for loss if it's not caught.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

IlliniGirl88 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:37:22 GMT

The thing that no one addresses during the RFID shows here on the Q is, when using a RFID credit card in a store at that point it's not protected in your RFID purse or RFID sleeves/cards, and that will be the time someone will skim your information. Someone could be standing behind you in line or near the cash registers, and when you take out your credit card to pay, could skim all the information because you've removed it from the RFID protection. None of the hosts or people selling these items ever talk about that. I understand RFID wallets protect your card while walking around stores, traveling, and dining, etc, when you're not actually using your card, but they are not protected at the critical point when you're actually using the card to complete a transaction.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

willdob3 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:38:02 GMT

I don't have any cards that have RFID chips so I don't use special wallets or card holders.

I've never had a card # stolen but, somehow my SS# was used once and someone used it for scamming the IRS. Took a year to straighten that out. All I can think is that someone working at a medical office or in HR at an employer's office stole it. It is not something used at many places.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

bri20 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:45:24 GMT

I think the RFID presentations are nothing more than fear-mongering...

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

Noel7 — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:51:20 GMT

@IlliniGirl88 wrote:
The thing that no one addresses during the RFID shows here on the Q is, when using a RFID credit card in a store at that point it's not protected in your RFID purse or RFID sleeves/cards, and that will be the time someone will skim your information. Someone could be standing behind you in line or near the cash registers, and when you take out your credit card to pay, could skim all the information because you've removed it from the RFID protection. None of the hosts or people selling these items ever talk about that. I understand RFID wallets protect your card while walking around stores, traveling, and dining, etc, when you're not actually using your card, but they are not protected at the critical point when you're actually using the card to complete a transaction.

**************************************

I would hope everyone knows that already. There are a lot of stories out there where waiters skim the card when someone uses it to pay.

The wallet is not going to save us except when people near us have a scanner, I would hope everyone knows that.

My credit number was stolen once. There are criminals that have thousands of card numbers and info and sell them online. They get them when they are printed. That's what my bank told me when my acct number was stolen.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

chrystaltree — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:52:24 GMT

I have never heard of any bank emailing people about that type of thing. Never happened to me but when my bff's credit card was stolen (she didn't even know it had been stolen) and the bank noticed suspicious activity on it, they called her to verify the purchases and when she said it wasn't her they suspended the card and she had to go into the bank the next day. However, I'm pretty sure "little metal cardholders" can't protect you from credit card fraud.....high tech or low tech. I haven't bought any of those RIFD cards yet, I probably should but the people I know who have had credit theft issues were scanned, someone stole the actual credit card.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

CouponQueen — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:52:33 GMT

Honestly it is what it is.

I do not think anybody is walking past my trying to scan my cards. I think the few times I had my cards replaced was data breech through computers. I had a credit card replaced not long ago with a 'standard' data breech letter but it must of not been too important as the letter said the new cards were being processed and my old one was still good til the 15th of that month..giving me two weeks more..

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

catwhisperer — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 19:58:25 GMT

My CC was compromised a few weeks ago, but my bank caught it. It was still a PITA to deal with. I do carry a Travelon crossbody bag with built in RFID slots and a slash proof strap. I really like the bag a lot. I would give an item number, but it's not showing when I try to pull it up. Every time they get them in stock, they sell out right away.

Re: Those little plastic cards we all have. . .

Nightowlz — Thu, 28 Apr 2016 20:06:39 GMT

@bonnielu wrote:
Adding a question to your question or comment.

RFID protection: I have the new chips on my card. I am not sure the RFID protection is necessary. Does anyone know. I understand about the OLD cards, but the new ones, doesn't seem to need them.

I also have a few new chip cards. I did not think they used RFID but I found this. Sounds like they have to be really close to you to get your info but it's not impossible.

What the Heck Is This Computer Chip Doing in My Credit Card? -

Back to the magic chip reader question. Is it possible to read the data on an EMV chip from a distance? The short answer is “not likely.” EMV cards do use RFID. Similar to AM and FM radio bands, EMV chips utilize specific bands to communicate. It’s called Near Field Communication (NFC). NFC radio signals degrade very quickly, and as a result, they can only be transmitted within a very short distance, measured in centimeters. The requirement of close proximity practically eliminates the risk of a device communicating with an EMV chip from a distance.

https://www.heartlandpaymentsystems.com/blog/2015/02/22/what-the-heck-is-this-computer-chip-doing-in-my-credit-card/