How to Protect Your Credit Cards From Contactless Skimming
How to protect your credit cards from contactless skimming
Contactless skimming means using a nearby reader to try to read a card's chip. It is a lower risk than most people think, but the steps below are cheap and sensible.
1. Use an RFID blocking card, wallet, or sleeve
Choose a product that states it blocks 13.56 MHz, the frequency of contactless cards, and that shows independent test results. SignalVault is a credit-card-sized insert that goes in your existing wallet and was tested at 13.56 MHz. See the results.
2. Turn on transaction alerts
Instant purchase alerts in your bank app are the fastest way to catch any unauthorized charge, whatever the cause.
3. Know how to lock your card
Most issuers let you freeze a card in the app. Lock it as soon as it is lost or you see something unfamiliar.
4. Use a phone wallet where you can
Apple Pay and Google Wallet use a one-time code instead of your real card number.
5. Watch for physical skimmers
Gas pumps, ATMs, and unattended card readers are a more common source of stolen card data than wireless scanning. Check for loose or bulky card slots. Our skimmer search page can help.
Two kinds of skimming
| Type | How it works | What helps |
|---|---|---|
| Wireless (contactless) | A nearby reader tries to read the card chip | RFID blocking card, wallet, or sleeve |
| Physical | A device on a pump, ATM, or terminal copies the card | Inspect readers, use a phone wallet, use alerts |
Frequently asked questions
How do I protect my credit cards from RFID skimming?
Carry them with a tested RFID blocking card, wallet, or sleeve, and turn on alerts.
Is RFID skimming common?
Wireless skimming is considered uncommon. Physical skimmers and data breaches are more common.