monkey44
Cape Cod, MA and Central Fla
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Just received a new VISA card equipped with the 'touch reader' technology. Says we only wave the card over the reader for payment.
That seems a bit dangerous to me - if the reader can read the wave, why not a stranger standing behind us in a store, or anywhere, with a scanner in hand.
We don't sign anything, we don't show the safety number on the back, nothing but a wave and a charge.
Now I also see 'card wallets' that have a wave protector screen. So, now we get a 'wave card' and need an 'anti-wave wallet' to protect it. One more thing to buy and carry around. Pretty soon we'd need a cargo trailer just for identification and credit cards and check cards, etc.
Anyone have a comment on the safety of 'wave cards'... seems pretty easy to scan the signal.
Monkey44
Cape Cod Ma & Central Fla
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Y-Guy
Tri-Cities, WA
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The card pretty much needs to be right on top of the device when "tapped" as you will find when you use it you've got to be within about half and inch for it to work. There are a lot of good facts about this here is one article from Square that may help. You will find the mag stripe won't be around for long by 2024 they will begin to disappear.
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CA Traveler
The Western States
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Taping is much quicker so there is that. Safety is up to each person to be aware and check your account. One of our cards was hacked by an employee at a hospital snack bar where the reader was out of sight. Charged airline tickets 3 weeks in advance from Dallas. Credit card company folks were waiting.
And then there was a $900 pair of hiking boots (not a typo) delivered to us with the address changed the prior day...
Within a week of the charges we called and got a new card.
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Bob
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opnspaces
San Diego Ca
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As said you pretty much have to almost touch the pad for it to work. I wouldn't worry about somebody standing behind you with a high tech scanner, the technology just doesn't work that way. Although there are a quite a few people in this world that are more than happy to make misleading claims and take your money for a protective sleeve.
And seriously, what's the concern? It's a Visa. If they somehow steal your card you get the money back.
My unsolicited advice... Login to your visa card website or call the card company using the phone number on the back of the card and ask for assistance. Setup an alert that sends you a text any time the card is charged. Set the dollar amount for the alert as low as possible (typically $1). Then go about your day and don't give this another thought.
I have this setup and I often get that text while standing at the register waiting for my receipt to finish printing. If not I definitely get the text before I get to my car.
If you ever get a text when you know you didn't just use the card you can be concerned. Until you figure out that it was your monthly Netflix renewal. Yep even after many years I still get caught by that one every month.
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Tom/Barb
Oak Harbor, Wa
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There are several Credit card safety's devices to stop others from steeling your info.
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Lwiddis
Southern California :(
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One of the reasons I use a credit card vs. a debit card. CCs have consumer protection.
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monkey44
Cape Cod, MA and Central Fla
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Ok, thanks guys - I kinda figured it was more difficult than simply scanning ...
And, yes, we have warning sent each time we're charged on VISA. But, am not always looking at my laptop when at a store ![[emoticon]](https://forums.motorhome.com/sharedcontent/cfb/images/smile.gif "smile") ... don't always have my phone at hand either - not every minute of the day.
Guess I'll save my pennies and skip a 'scan safe' wallet too ... buy myself a Snickers instead. Happy camping y'all ... M44
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wildtoad
Blythewood, SC
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A couple of things. Check if your card issuer allows to to turn your card on or off. Then you can turn the card on before you use it and back off after. Look into getting an Apple Watch. (I assume android has similar). With my watch I can pay for things without the need to actually produce the credit or debit card I want to use. I also applied for and have an Apple Credit Card (Mastercard through Goldman Sachs). The card has no (zero) numbers displayed on it, just my name. I use it everywhere I have to actually produce a card. No way for them to get the numbers. Also, it can be setup so the 3 digit CVV code with change after N number of uses, and if I need/want to change the card number from time to time. Very secure.
The watch also receives the same notifications as my phone.
Tom Wilds
Blythewood, SC
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The Western States
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Our cards have a 30 day period to contest any charge. For the first 3 days the charge is pending so you can't do anything about the charge anyway
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wa8yxm
Davison Michigan (East of Flint)
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I have some of those.
You may wish to grab an RFID wallet for them (or sleeve) However I'm not sure that's not overkill.
On my Debit cards I still (usually) have to type in the PIN
and on the Credit card... well Rare I use it, Very rare. So frankly I don't know.
Some stores do not require PIN. When they do not PIN (or otherwise ID you) It's on them.
For example one store I use a different method of "Tapping" but it needs my fingerprint.. (or pin) that's kind of secure.
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