So much for credit/debit cards with chips......

[buzzed bait]

6 hours ago, Buckeye Ron said:

Guy I work with just got back from a business trip to Orlando. Bunch of them were in a Disney resort place for dinner when one of them said "hey,someone just used my credit card". She had signed up to be notified of any card activity and sure enough,while they were eating someone in the restaurant stole her card number via an RFID scanner. My friend said three people from that same party had their CC hacked at the same time.

So I've been researching methods of protecting my cards because if it's that easy I might as well put em on my account!

That's one of the top ways for credit card theft.  It's a small little device that fits right into a server's apron and allows them to simply swipe and store your card information.  

Another popular way is a device they put over the card reader on an ATM machine that does the same thing.  They leave it on for a short period of time, come back and have a number of identities to steal!  You'll notice some of the newer ATM's have a goofy curved oddball shape to them which doesn't allow these people to put that unit over the top of the card reader. 

If some of these thieves put their minds to something better than theft, who knows what kind of breakthroughs there would be!  

[nick76]

Gotta tell you guys.  Pay attention to your credit.  Went to file my taxes yesterday and..........someone has already filed using my SS#.  Going on 6 months of this nightmare.  I was at least told to freeze my credit early on.  That has helped stop something much worse, but what what a headache.   I think the worst part is feeling helpless until I see some paperwork from the IRS and knowing this will probably be with me forever.  I cannot recommend freezing your credit sooner than later if if you have never never had problems.  It will limit the damage that you could be held liable for if your identity is ever taken. 

[Glenn]

I have RFID protection card sleeves on all my cards; never store CC information online, check to ensure the swipe machine doesn't have a loose cover, and cover my hand when entering information on card swipers...plus all my cards are chipped.

and still one of my cards was hacked.

They had to of cracked a database somewhere in order to get it. 

Fortunately, the first attempt was someplace in Spain, so my CC company was all over it before they could even use it.  They shut it down before anything was processed.

Wish we could just mass-exterminate CC theives.  That would solve a lot of problems.

[nick76]

I am the same way Glenn.  I made sure to be extra cautious after the problems I had in December.  Still was hacked.  Must have been a big database and I suspect it had nothing to do with credit cards.  They just shutdown a huge ring there that were taking info from the state prison systems and VA centers.  I believe the total to be in excess of $20 million  in fraudulent tax returns.