Better Business Bureau sounds alarm on 'ghost tapping' credit card scam trend
Companick recommended people to get an RFID/NFC blocking card sleeve to put against their card.
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As technology continues to evolve, so do scammers and their practices.
The Better Business Bureau is sounding the alarm on the latest credit card scam trend called "ghost tapping."
"It's not just because it's Halloween season,” said Better Business Bureau NJ president and CEO Melissa Companick. “So, this is scammers and criminals trying to get your credit card information."
Companick said criminals are using Near Field Communication (NFC) technology to collect your card information when in close range, like in crowds.
Companick recommended people to get an RFID/NFC blocking card sleeve to put against their card.
"So many of us either you carry your phone, you carry your wallet in your back pocket, and you want to protect people from being able to zap for a lack of a better word, you know, that information,” said Companick.
Cyber expert Scott Schober, also president and CEO of Berkeley Varitronics Systems, showed News 12 in four seconds just how fast card information can be stolen.
"They call it 'ghost tapping' and coming, almost like a ghost, came up to your card and just miraculously stole the card information,” said Schober. “And next thing you know, a week later or a month later, you have all these mysterious charges."
Schober said criminals typically must be centimeters away but then range extenders can be bought over the dark web.
"Ghost tapping" also involves the dangers of fake vendors targeting tap-to-pay card users.
Both said to look out for a sense of urgency.
"Just tap right here. I can save you half price just today right now. Those types of things. it's the same type of things they use with phishing attacks,” said Schober.
To catch a scam, consider talking with the issuing bank credit card company to get texts each time there's a transaction.
"What these people will do is they'll run a small transaction, a very small, maybe a penny, you know, a dime. Something like that, a very small transaction, to make sure the card is valid and goes through and then bang they're going to hit you for a much larger charge,” said Companick.
Any New Jersey residents who have fallen victim to a scam should also report it to the Better Business Bureau online using its BBB Scam Tracker.
