Skimmers and no-swipe cards

Skimmers and no-swipe cards
Tags: Debit / Credit, Security
May 10, 2010

As no-swipe cards make credit card purchases more convenient for consumers, they also make them susceptible to new tricks from skimmers.

According to a story on WESH in Orlando, skimmers can use handheld devices that can discreetly scan an unsuspecting person's pocket. By doing so, the skimmer picks up the card information from the embedded computer chip.

Banks are working on ways to improve security with the no-swipe cards. One new way is from Identity Stronghold founder Walt Augustinowicz, who created a sleeve for the credit card that shields it from skimmers. Card information cannot be read until it is removed from the protective sleeve.