Contactless Security problem

DeusExMacintosh

Today I tried to use my normal Debit Card at Sainsburys and used my wallet to shield the PIN. In the process the machine chose to read the contactless credit card from another bank that was still in my wallet, instead. :mad:

According to the NatWest call centre there is no option to have one of their credit cards without contactless technology, so I am looking elsewhere. Do the sleeves or blocking cards work? Can I retrofit my wallet with something to prevent it happening again. Any recommendations.

Answers that don't make reference to government conspiracies would be appreciated.

[Deleted User]

It’s not all a big conspiracy

By an RFID blocking wallet or card holder

eddddy

Here's a shorter version of the link:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Savisto-RFID-Blocking-Card-Holder-20-Pack-Credit-Debit-Bank-Protector-Sleeves-/263782482281

(But not a recommendation...)

cloud_dog

Or just cut the corner of the card off to break the RFID circuit.

Terry_Towelling

I thought that once you'd got the CHIP in the reader and were at the point of PIN entry, the contactless technology in the POS device wouldn't be enabled - have I got that wrong?

Not trying to be facetious but you could try shielding your PIN entry with your hand

And to all those who regularly travel on crowded tubes, buses and trains beware. Just maybe your contactless details can be grabbed in such close proximity. Whether they can then be cloned I don't know, but it does seem like a risk to me.

Ben8282

A bit paranoid surely using your wallet to shield the PIN.
You must have had the wallet very close although has been pointed out rather strange that this happened after the debit card had been inserted into the machine.
I was going to ask why you didn't use the debit card contactless as the transaction value obviously allowed it but am guessing that you have a non-contactless debit card..

MEM62

Hardly a security issue. You have brought your card to within range of the reader. Don't do that and you will be fine.

ariba10

You could wrap some aluminium foil around the cards you want protected.

Nasqueron

Ben8282 wrote: »

A bit paranoid surely using your wallet to shield the PIN.
You must have had the wallet very close although has been pointed out rather strange that this happened after the debit card had been inserted into the machine.
I was going to ask why you didn't use the debit card contactless as the transaction value obviously allowed it but am guessing that you have a non-contactless debit card..

I do the exact same thing with chip and pin machines in shops (main reason why I prefer contactless really), only do it with spend over £30 though so shouldn't trigger the contactless. Perhaps a bit paranoid but twice on the same card had fraud over a few years and I am always suspicious of people in shops lurking around in eye line of the card machine

jimbo26

Use your hand to shield your PIN not your wallet. Did you not realise what might happen when you put a wallet with contactless cards so close to the terminal??

PRAISETHESUN

You could buy an RFID blocking wallet, or simply line your card pockets with a bit of foil. Alternatively, you could just not use your wallet to shield your PIN - I'm guilty of this myself too, however I haven't had the card reader accept a contactless reading after my card was already inserted into the reader. The distance you have to keep your card next to the reader is very small, basically touching, so it should still be possible to shield using your wallet if you keep it a bit further from the reader.