Is it really safe to use contactless feature of credit cards? The risk of being defrauded may be possible even when you are using public transportation. Instances of money being taken off contactless when you walk past something have been heard lately.
Technology has become an inseparable part of our lives. Technological facilities are so integrated in our lives that they become a routine of our daily life. Besides, such facilities are aimed to be improved more to ease the course of life. By all means, this new age brings along its conditions. We become obliged to take safety precautions against these facilities coming along with the technological advances. The contactless feature of credit cards is one of the technological advances, which leaves a question mark over minds.
Although it has been used for 10 years, the contactless feature of credit card has recently become popular. This feature allows you to pay by just touching tour contactless debit card against the reader without any need for a password, based on the limit defined your bank such as 50 TL. What’s more, you don’t have to hand in your card to anyone. According to the researches, this type of payment is realized in such a short time when compared to cash payments.
Let’s take a look at claims
Some claim that contactless debit cards are kind of technological transitions in their own field. As it works with the system called NFC (near-field communication, which is a set of short-range wireless technologies rooted in radio-frequency identification technology. For now, this technology is only limited to credit card usage, but its area of utilization is gradually becoming widespread. Very soon, you will be able to pay via your credit card even if you don’t hold it in your hands as the technology will enable you to pay via your smart phones or from any item in which a microchip integrated. So, it would be for your own good to comply with the circumstances coming along with this new technology.
However, as it is experienced in all new technologies, “contactless technology” has created its own circumstances and this facility has reportedly turned into a fraud system. Rumor has it that crooks using card reading equipment swipe money as you walk, and they preferably do this in rush hours, especially at public transportation. All they do is to key in a price and then touch the device on the pocket that you carry wallet, so you have been charged on your touch pay enabled debit card and because of the crowd it is impossible to hear any beep sound. It is reported that such cases have been increased lately.
Such a fraud! Is it possible?
A chip inside the credit card that emits radio waves enables an interaction between the pos device and credit card. It requires a distance of 4 cm to initiate a connection, so the tech-savvy crooks reportedly target those who carry their wallets in their back pockets. According to experts, such a method is possible but very hard to realize. Even if it is actualized, fraudulent payments in your account can be detected and you can oppose to this suspicious payment activity. However, inefficient audit system in pos devices put a question mark in the minds.
What to do?
Contactless payment is not very common in Turkey. Thereby, many card owners deactivate the contactless feature. You can also indicate that you don’t want such a feature before you get your card, or you can disable it later. All you have to do is calling your bank.
However, as a matter of fact, contactless debit cards offer very practical payment options in the rush of life. For that matter, if you insist on taking advantage of this feature, you should keep wary eye on it in some respects. First of all, where you keep your credit card matters; instead of carrying it in back pocket, you may prefer the front pocket or your handbag, especially in public transportation.
With the increase of instances of fraud, RFID-blocking wallets are favored by many people and becoming popular. These wallets offer protection against RFID skimming. They contain a blocking system, which is a form of passive shielding of RFID signals.
Finally, it would be for your own good to check regularly your transactions. As the contactless limits are too low, they may easily drop beneath your radar. On the other hand, if the bank spots any fraudulent activity done with your card, it will take a prompt action and will give you a call to check if your credit card is safe.
