Can This Gadget Suck Money Out of Your Wallet? - Comments Page 1

Having worked for the dreaded TSA at several airports, large and small, I invested in an RFID blocking wallet. I worked intermittently at O'Hare in Chicago and was well aware that unscrupulous individuals would carry similar card readers that could read the encrypted information on credit cards and even passports. I have purchased RFID blocking sleeves for my families passports and encouraged them to obtain RFID blocking wallets as well.

Great article, Bob. I hadn't heard about this until now.

I would add that, besides criminals, probably the most frequent users of prepaid debit cards are the poor. So ERAD is one more way for police departments to prey on them.

Another State off my visitors list.

I could write a 6 page essay on this subject but I will keep this short and sweet.

As an advocate for our Constitutional rights, I would have to say that the Civil Asset Forfeiture law(s) is a form of legalized theft. I have no doubt that the original intentions were honorable but there will always be some officers and/or agencies that will pervert this technology to satiate the greed of the department which they are working for.

I encourage all people to become educated on their Constitutional rights as well as Federal and State Civil Asset Forfeiture laws and to exercise their rights at every possible opportunity when dealing with law enforcement officers and other government agents (Google is your friend). Here is an article that will get you started: http://www.heritage.org/research/reports/2014/03/civil-asset-forfeiture-7-things-you-should-know

Thank you, Bob, for bringing this issue to all of your readers. I feel that it is imperative that we all become educated on this topic and to take the proper steps to prevent legalized thievery of assets from innocent civilians.

Knowledge is power.

I can see where some sophisticated hacker could create a dummy card to break the ERAD reader or steal the information from it and pass it along to thieves who could tap the account or steal the funds held in the account or the reader.

Civil asset forfeiture - such as this - is merely a tool that the government uses to line its own pockets to the detriment of everyone else. But it all traces back to the drug war, and this problem will never be eliminated until we eliminate the failed war on drugs. Prohibition of alcohol created the Mafia; the unconstitutional drug prohibition has created the drug cartels and the entire militarized "warrior cop" mentality. The "warrior cops" will use any weapon to seize money that even MIGHT be related to drugs, in their own feverish and paranoid minds. Things will get a lot worse, before they get better.

"Land of the Free" - bah, humbug. U.S. law enforcement agencies are competing with the mafia to become the largest criminal organization in the country. All in the name of protecting the sheep. Freedom does not reign.

All these restrictions of our constitutional rights are a direct reflection on the people we elect to office. Esp. now, in this 2016 Presidential Election season it is imperative not to vote for anyone in the two media supported parties, Executive or Congressional. The status quo has taken us to this place in our nation's history. Perhaps resttoration of our constitutional rights can be made by 3rd party elected officers. If not I fear the solution will not be pretty.

A lot of us don't take these warnings seriously enough, because we figure such abuses only occur on a limited basis. It's a sad state of affairs when we have to guard our pockets from being picked by our own government, but staying informed is our first line of defense, and we must treat such threats as real.

I am very glad my kids live overseas. I will be following them in about 3 years and not look back, regardless who is elected.

Sanders was the only chance this country had of walking back the control by big business. I sincerely doubt that I will see it again in my lifetime.

How difficult is it to buy one of these gadgets? If you find your funds have been sucked away, is it automatically a law enforcement issue or just another way non-law enforcement types have of stealing from us? Not exactly thrilled with the fact the gadgets exist in the first place.

I think that you missed a much more effective gadget, email. Yours, as well as others, have successfully sucked money out of my wallet. Of course, it was voluntary on my part. Thanx for the continuing flow of great info.

Interesting. Normally on 'Social Issues' there is descent or a devils advocate in the replies. Here I count 13 reply's without a single disecne. THAT ought to tell people that perhaps it's time to REALLY write letters to their congressmen and Seniors at the state and federal levels - not just say that they should. FINALLY something we can all agree (so far) about.

Perhaps as good as any 'one stop' place for addresses:

https://www.usa.gov/elected-officials

Just a couple of paragraphs, more than 3 don't really get read, there is an algorithm they use to gauge support for things like this, independent, non circulated 'e-petions' get more points. Phone calls the the most. E-petions get the least - I don't know the point system now, but when writing was allowed, a letter got 10 points, a phone call 6, and a petition 2 points. Meaning a single letter represented 10 voters, phone calls represented 6 voters, petitions represented 2 voters.

That was YEARS go, I don't know what the 'points' are now. But there you go- a link to fire off a line if you want - you can bitch here, or you can do something other than grumble. I'd rather stop grumbling and do something - (remember some funding of your elected comes from those seized funds -- it's ONE reason why cops have military 'breach' vehicles will full anti-IED armor)and full auto Ma-duces or m-60's on the turret.

Or you could just mutter how 'bad' it is.

Yet another example of so-called law enforcement agencies in the USA bending the Constitution into a pretzel in order to 'protect the law-abiding' by stealing money from the innocent wherever they can. Thank heaven I no longer live in the USA - this has given me another reason never to go back there.

Since when do you have to prove something belongs to you. Don't the F****ng cops have to prove it is not.
It is the cops we should be worried about.

What are the police going to be able to do next-seize your home?

Geeze Bob, I am surprised to see you say that some policemen are thieves and not the exalted demi-gods so many people began to worship after Sept 11 2001.

You know, I never did understand this deification of a bunch of civil servants who were simply doing the job that they were well paid to do when the planes hit the 2 towers and the Pentagon. I spent 12 years as a Civil Servant (but not a cop) and several older friends died on the job. Just because a bunch of people die at once because of a shared event they don't stop being dead people and become something more. If the former were true than everyone who dies today because of the flu should be deified, as well as all people who die of throat and lung cancer today because of cigarets. The list goes on... But 9/11 was different, you say... Why? Because so many people have limited imaginations? All the 1st responders died doing their job. They had a contract with the city to do certain things for their getting a regular paycheck. Death was always a possibility. (Oh you want to bring up the off-duty personnel who gave their lives? Don't! I'm on a roll!)

But seriously, it seems to me that the terrorist acts of 9/11, and the lap-dog media, put cops on a pedestal that has gone to their collective heads. We are not quite in "Judge Dredd" territory yet, a future in which cops have been given the power to be Judge, Jury, and Executioner. Before we get to that point we need to reign them in.

Outstanding article, reviewing the ERAD card against current and potential abuse. By all measures, ERAD technology is a clear case of Big Brother-style "mission creep".

With digital data, we citizens are often the last to know when our rights have been violated. From DRM user-limiting provisions of software to all areaa of personal privacy, the digital rights issue begs for public discussion and for appropriate protective legislation. Where is that discussion, today?

Obviously, we should not have to defend our civil rights against abusers of our rights. So, must we prove to police we own our property, or that our free speech is permitted? It is the police who are under obligation to observe due process, first and foremost-- that is what distinguishes rule of law in a democracy from a police state (Russia or China).

Digital data is here to stay, but citizens and consumers must realize the danger of not speaking up to defend their rights. If they do not defend themselves, who will?

Maybe if enough people had their funds taken and it is legally theirs, a class action suite against the Oklahoma State Government is necessary. Litigants would sign over small amounts to litigating law firm to make it worth their while (even if it amounts to a million dollars) just to have satisfaction of costing government lots to defend. Could be done as many times as necessary.

Frank asked: "What are the police going to be able to do next-seize your home?"
Yes they can. They can claim it was being used to distribute drugs or that it was purchased with illegal money. The frequently seize vehicles. Coast Guard can seize your yacht if there is one m*riju*na cigarette aboard. It is called zero tolerance.