TAMPA, Fla. (WFLA) — The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers about a new tactic called “ghost tapping.”
Be aware of your surroundings, they said, because these conspirators need to be near you to use the tools to obtain your payment information.
Dismissals continue amid HCSO’s academic fraud investigation. The second captain lets go
“Ghost eavesdropping and its technology existed when consumers had tap-to-pay technology,” said BBB’s Brian Oglesby.
The BBB says there are a few things to keep in mind to prevent this from happening.
“So if you’re in a large group of people, if you’re in a crowded area, you have to be very careful about somebody bumping into you and things like that. Also, be careful of potential fake vendors at events,” Oglesby said. “Now is the time of year when the weather is nice and there are lots of events going on. Check out your vendors and see what they’re charging when you tap to pay.”
Angela Liberman has a background in cybersecurity and said she is doing everything in her power to thwart these plans.
“I myself am usually careful to look for red flags, but I can easily imagine how easily I could be fooled, such as at a crowded event or when I’m out and about and not paying attention,” she said.
The BBB said you can use protective devices such as RFID wallets and protective sleeves to prevent conspirators from obtaining your information.
It also recommends setting up text alerts for card purchases and checking your account frequently.
“Any time you receive an unauthorized charge on your credit or debit card, you as the consumer are not responsible for those charges and can dispute them, and you want to do so in a timely manner,” Oglesby said.
Liberman said a credit monitoring service is in place.
“And I get an alert, if you can set it up, every time there’s a transaction over a certain amount, I get an alert and it alerts me,” she said.
If you are a victim of this scheme, the BBB is asking you to report the transactions to your bank and have your card frozen or canceled.
