Don't take your paypass CC with you!!!

[redrosesix]

Who knew? If you carry a paypass/tap to pay credit card in your wallet or your purse when traveling in the US, a thief can use an RFID scanner to make a copy of your card without ever seeing it. And then they can use it everywhere no pin is required -- which is almost everywhere in the US but apparently they have a thing for Walmart.

It happened to me -- just finished having over $3000 in charges erased from my MC account. It was probably done in SeaWorld but it could have been anywhere. In fact, I talked to somebody at the frontdesk of our resort and the same thing happened to her in Universal. What really bothered me was that Mastercard seemed completely aware of the issue but never told me that could happen.

They're sending me a new card but I won't be taking it outside of Canada again because it isn't an option to have the paypass feature removed.

 

[davedmaine]

That's not just a US issue and it's been around for years. Do a Google search on it for background..

 

[minnie mum]

Agree with the PP. This type of credit card theft is definitely not new. You can buy RFID card protectors/shields at just about anywhere now. I bought a several a few years ago. Nowadays you can buy wallets and moneybelts that also have the RFID shields in them. Very common and easy to find.

 

[dis_guy]

Agree with the PP. This type of credit card theft is definitely not new. You can buy RFID card protectors/shields at just about anywhere now. I bought a several a few years ago. Nowadays you can buy wallets and moneybelts that also have the RFID shields in them. Very common and easy to find.

Yup. All of our travel bags, wallets, and card holders are RF proof. We got set up with it all for a trip to Europe last summer. Magellans.com has a good selection.

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

You could also contact your credit card company to disable it. I know Ia had a problem with my back card and got a new one and the teller at the back asked me if I wanted the RFID on it disabled. I said yes as I don't use it.

 

[bdoyledimou]

i can barely get my paypass card to work in Canada --didnt think they would be strong enough to transmit 3 inches let alone farther..

 

[Susan2771]

i can barely get my paypass card to work in Canada --didnt think they would be strong enough to transmit 3 inches let alone farther..

Ditto. Mine never works when I have tried using them in stores. Still using my cards the old fashioned way by pressing buttons and entering codes.

 

[mulan1123]

I think my paypass card has work three times in the last 8 months......but I will look into getting an RFID protector.....

 

[redrosesix]

That's not just a US issue and it's been around for years. Do a Google search on it for background..

Wait.. what?!!!!! this happens in Canada too?????

or do you mean US and some other places?

i can barely get my paypass card to work in Canada --didnt think they would be strong enough to transmit 3 inches let alone farther..

Yup, seriously, I never used paypass because it really doesn't work. The only thing I get to work is that keychain pay system for Esso.

But now I know. And it cost me nothing. But I'm not taking chances with it ever again.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

Wait.. what?!!!!! this happens in Canada too?????

Yes, it happens here too. There are many different RF readers that can collect this information, including some smart phones. But they are all proximate sensor devices and need to be very close to the card. The data that they get is no different than the data they could capture by swiping the magnetic strip. So any time you hand your card over to someone, your credit card company (not necessarily you) is vulnerable.

And now that WDW has embraced RFID wrist bands and cards for park admission, I wonder how long it will be before these boards are full of reports of people having their park tickets used without their knowledge. I could see them going the Disneyland Route where everyone with a 4-day or longer ticket has to have their photo taken at the beginning of the vacation, and cast members verify it upon each subsequent park entry on that ticket.

Regarding credit cards, I have issues with the mag stripes wearing off or demagnetizing. The RF ID system (PayPass or tap-to-pay) and/or chips are much more reliable. It is extremely frustrating when your card cannot swipe when travelling. Realtors are supposed to be able to manually enter your credit card information but most are not trained sufficiently to know how -- they just claim it was rejected even though the receipt says "merchant to call Visa / MasterCard / Amex".

 

[EastYorkDisneyFan]

le.

And now that WDW has embraced RFID wrist bands and cards for park admission, I wonder how long it will be before these boards are full of reports of people having their park tickets used without their knowledge. I could see them going the Disneyland Route where everyone with a 4-day or longer ticket has to have their photo taken at the beginning of the vacation, and cast members verify it upon each subsequent park entry on that ticket.

The magic bands actually have no readable information on them just a code that Disney computer system can read. Even if someone did get the info from it, they couldn't pick up your credit card info from it.

 

[TagsMissy]

Op this is nothing new... it can happen at home too, nothing to do specifically with the US.

 

[minnie mum]

Wait.. what?!!!!! this happens in Canada too?????

or do you mean US and some other places?

But now I know. And it cost me nothing. But I'm not taking chances with it ever again.

Yes, this can happen anywhere in the world. Including when you walk down the street in your home town. So how are you going to protect yourself? Just get an RFID protected wallet and you'll be fine. The only other way to "not take chances" is to never take the card out of the house. Kind of defeats the purpose of having it in the first place.

 

[GrtWtNorth]

The magic bands actually have no readable information on them just a code that Disney computer system can read. Even if someone did get the info from it, they couldn't pick up your credit card info from it.

No, they couldn't get the credit card information, but they could replicate the code and use the park tickets. While guests have to enter a PIN to make purchases, magic band is all that's required for park entry.

 

[CanadianPaco]

. While guests have to enter a PIN to make purchases, magic band is all that's required for park entry.

And your fingerprint!

 

[GrtWtNorth]

And your fingerprint!

That's not secure because
1. It's not actually a fingerprint scanner, it just measures the outline or shape of your finger, which isn't very unique; and
2. CMs don't use it to deter fraud. I tell them, "I can't remember which tiger I scanned," and they let me through without question ever time. (And I was telling the truth, I was twisted up holding DD4 and got an awkward scan that could never be replicated.)