… which in this case essentially “self-identify”.
Lovely…
Yikes.
“ So customers tap their card instead – and here’s the trick. When you tap, the account remains open for more transactions, unless the customer proactively logs out.”
Some parking payment machines and post office machines also remain open for more transactions unless the customer logs out. I always look for a log out button.
Yikes—thanks for the alert—it’s sure hard to stay current on all these scams!
wow-it’s not intuitive to sign out- thanks for the info
I was told several years ago that when you’re shopping and tap (especially a gas station) to get a printed receipt - that closes the transaction -
The “tap” is no different than swiping your magnetic bar. People also left their accounts open after swiping.
However, if you have the tap function, always keep your card in an RFID-blocking wallet.
We have several of those, but how does this help in the “tap” function?
Just when the pandemic was starting, I used my credit card in a San Francisco parking meter to pay the parking fees. Several days later, Chase contacted me that my card was being used in San Diego (illegally so), and it blocked the carc. Chase never bothered to fill me in on any more details. I assume my Chase card was skimmed at the parking meter.
I just heard about a scam similar to the “grandkid arrested in Mexico” one where they claim they have your pet and demand you pay up.
My friend, whose independent minded dog refuses to get in the car most days, says she would ask them excitedly what their secret was for getting the dog to go with them…
The tap funcion works because the chip will send your information when it detects a reader really close by. There are different handheld readers with somewhat stronger signals, and which can pick up the data from further away. Criminals use these readers to collect credit card info as they pass people, especially at the store as you’re leaving (because they know that you have a CC with you). Those wallets block the signal that the card receives from readers and block the card from sending data out.
Thank you! Great comment/advice. I would urge everyone to consider getting something like this.
Some good advice on how to keep one’s Facebook account secure (some is applicable to other online accounts, too).
https://www.seattletimes.com/business/technology/dont-get-hacked-on-facebook-do-these-6-things-now/
I just used a post office kiosk. It was SOOO SLow. It told me to scan my priority mailer but then wouldn’t take the scan, so I had to pick manually the type of package. Then it didn’t like the address I put in, so I checked in on my phone. Correct. Then it wanted my name and address. Said no such address (and this is MY home post office). Did I want to continue? Yes. Checkout. Slide card in. Remove. Check check check. Printed postage. I then spun around to mail. Luckily no one else was there as I noticed the kiosk was asking if I wanted more time. I thought I was DONE! Also it gave me the receipt (which will be helpful in case there really is ‘no such address’.
Got a call from Germany this morning. I didn’t answer as I don’t know anyone in Germany.
Scam of the month here.
We took out a new home equity line of credit. We are now getting offers for insurance on our house…and I’m talking three or four per week. Some make it sound like we have to have this insurance (we do have to have homeowners…but we already have it).
These letters even have our lender name on them…which is something wr are going to discuss with them!
The name of your lender is public records (remember how the media went nuts when Melinda Gates loaned some $$ to someone?). These scammers are low lives that trawl these databases looking for new mortgages and then start bombarding with offers of mortgage insurance etc.
Warn you children! Our daughter got scammed out of $1200! She had recently started a new job (which she had posted on social media). During work hours (working from home) she got a text, coming from her boss’ phone number saying he was in an all-day meeting with (NAME OF BIG IMPORTANT COMPANY) and he needed her to go out and by gift cards right away for clients and that he would reimburse her. She did it, and got scammed out of $1200 . So warn your kids NEVER to buy gift cards and give the info, even if it seems like someone you know like your boss is asking you to do so!
Ugh I’ve gotten those. I’m the treasurer on a couple of Boards of Directors of non-profits. The info is public record so I will get an email supposedly from the Board President asking me to send money to a vendor. I almost fell for it the first time, it looked so legitimate. But it was signed with the President’s full name instead of his nickname so I investigated and found out it was a scam.
Two of my former employers almost got scammed by someone sending fake legal services invoices!
A friend of mine is also a charity treasurer and regularly gets spoofed emails from other board members with very legit seeming invoices- for things they would normally buy.