Does Your Wallet Need a Tinfoil Hat? - Comments Page 1

Let us also remember that you are limited to $50 of loss on a credit card and most issuers won't even hold you responsible for that if your card is stolen. This is yet another version of the credit card insurance scam that even some issuers run. You are protecting the bank, not your wallet.

I bought an RFID credit card wallet because I was afraid of having my cards electronically stolen. But it seems I was being a wee bit over cautious, if they don't use that technology any more! So I will ask my card companies if my cards are all the EMV type. If so, it will be a relieve to be able to go back to using a normal purse/wallet again:-)

But your tip about using 2-inch wide aluminium duct tape between your cards, if you are concerned, is very inventive. But it might make it a bit fiddly getting your cards out without pulling out the duct tape at the same time :-/

A great review of the news feature - always like to see a piece with _real_ information!

Hi Bob,
This is interesting news. I feel kinda silly because I bought one of those RFID wallets a couple of years ago from the Internet "Goddess" herself, Kim Komando. Could you contact her and let her know she's duping the public. I doubt that she'd listen to me. Check this out.
http://shop.komando.com/safe-id-leather-rfid-billfold-wallet
Or this:
http://shop.komando.com/power-pochette-rfid-wallet-with-3000mah-charger

TEXAS television station. What more needs to be said?

Thank you so much for updating this information. I am one of those who fell for the ruse and purchased a signal blocking wallet to protect my cards. I left most cards at home based on these reports which sometimes proved inconvenient. Fear drives so many things in this country, but especially in the field of technology. I'm not surprised that reporters pass these stories around without researching them. I appreciate your newsletter and have recommended it to many friends. I have found your articles to be trustworthy and educational.

Rankin, I really like your articles, and your humor. I have learned a lot from reading them and when I check information out on other sites, you have always been correct. I recommended you to some friends of mine who are not very computer savvy (which, honestly I am not either) and they are learning as well. Keep up the great work. By the way, I found you and signed up for your notices through PC Matic, which is also great, so keep contributing there too. Thanks much, we seniors really appreciate you.

You may also need to protect yourself..
See:
http://zapatopi.net/afdb/

I've heard about this walk-by card-scanning before and was skeptical, but thought it possible. Who knows what those dastards will come up with to rip you off?

Thanks Bob! Excellent overview of topic area! Timely!

I'm going to have to buy you a tennis lesson if you keep this up!

I seems that U.S. journalism is at a low ebb much like Australian journalism. It's about time the journalists got off their bum and started doing proper research.

Just a note ... I needed to use a security card and have it scanned to enter the job I was working on in 2013 after seeing some of these warnings .... I put metal tape and screening on both sides of my wallet with this card between them and all my other cards.... The scanner was still able to read my security card from a reasonable distance. So I do not believe these tin foil hats do anything.

I worked at O'Hare airport on occasion. I bought an RFID wallet for the very reason that electronic pickpocketing is rampent. Not only are your credit cards in peril, your passport is too. Don't pooh-pooh the idea that you are safe just staying away from crowds...you aren't. You may only be on the hook for $50 per credit card, but what happens when your passport information is stolen?

'Chip'cards have been out for some time in Canada and are just beginning to get popular in the US. Having spent winters in Florida, its interesting to note that the same scam stories circulated here in the beginning throughout various media forms and are now being re-run again for our southern neighbours. History does repeat itself.
(¯`·._.·ns¢ävË·._.·´¯)

If you can get the sleeves really cheap, they do keep your cards from getting scratched up from rubbing on other things. It is also a good reminder when you see an empty one - as in "where is my card".

Thanks Bob for this informative article. I am skeptical of those, so called RFID blocking sleeves for credit cards. Seems to be another way, to capitalize off of people's fears.

Thanks, Bob!

Where can I buy a tinfoil hat?

I don't think those RF blocking sleeves work. Before leaving for Mexico I had put my grandson and granddaughter's passport cards in the glove box and at the last minute my granddaughter decided that she felt ill and didn't go. On the way home I presented my grandson's and my card to the reader and when I got to the inspectors booth he asked. "Where's the girl?" My granddaughter's card was in it's gov't provided sleeve and in the glove box. I explained but he searched everywhere even under the hood (There's not enough room even for a six pack of sodas under there). Either the RF blocking foil doesn't work or the Feds have some kick butt readers.

Regarding the previous post from Steve - Kim Komando has lost all credibility. In the past few years. she has become a self-serving huckster, pushing all sorts of "must-have" merchandise that is often of dubious value, at prices that can often be more expensive than similar merchandise sold at other internet sources, or at bricks-and-mortar stores.

Kim Komando, with her often alarming articles, pushes her internet musings and radio show to much of an audience that seems to me, to be more on the lowest end of the tech-savviness scale, who are more interested in her numerous "cute" stories about children and animals, than in getting a serious explanation of computer related issues, as is normally presented by Bob Rankin.

Bob,excellent article,I especially liked the last line.