05/05/2026
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đł Ghost Tapping. Have you heard about âghost tappingâ?
Scammers are using fake NFC (near-field communication) reader technology that powers tap-to-pay, charging YOUR credit card without you noticing. They must be in very close proximity to the card, and it usually happens in a crowded area like a sporting event, concert, or crowded airport, without raising any suspicion. The device triggers your card to respond, and then the thief can use your card. Initially, the criminals typically do âmicro chargesâ, so you arenât alerted by your bank, and often these purchases donât require a PIN.
The transactions are typically smaller amounts at first, and the hope is that you arenât paying attention and wonât notice the charges on your account. Then, if you donât catch on, they might escalate to bigger fraudulent activity. Catching the thieves and stopping them will improve your chances of getting your money back â and may help stop the thief.
đł Some quick protection tips:
*Turn on transaction alerts for every charge so youâre alerted immediately when a charge happens
*Enable face ID, fingerprint or passcode protection on your phone.
*Donât have your credit card as the card nearest the outside of your wallet. Put it behind your loyalty card or gift card, or other harmless card.
*Consider an RFID-blocking (radio frequency identification) wallet or sleeve in crowded areas. (An RFID-blocking wallet is a specially designed wallet that blocks electromagnetic signals to prevent thieves from unauthorized scanning and stealing data from RFID-enabled credit cards, passports, and IDs)
*Watch for the thieves' âtestâ charges. Thatâs often how scammers test if your account is active. Report suspicious charges immediately to your bank â even the small ones
*Monitor bank accounts, Apple Pay/Google Pay activity closely
