Remember that being prepared is every bit about protecting yourself and family from “everyday” problems like credit card and identity theft as it is about being prepared for the next hurricane to roll through your town. Just yesterday I read an article that discussed what to do if your credit card is stolen and it got me to wondering how useful credit card “secure sleeves” such as those made by Identity Stronghold and others really are. If you’re unaware, these sleeves are designed to stop RFID skimmers from being able to read credit card numbers while it’s still in your wallet or purse, sort of like wireless Internet but without your permission. Now, this is only an issue with cards that include a RFID chip, so if yours doesn’t have one then you’re probably OK (here’s how to know if your card has RFID). Realize that even if your card doesn’t currently have an RFID chip that technology is always moving forward and that eventually you’ll be forced to have one… I guarantee it. 🙁
Anyway, these “secure sleeves” are something that I’ve used for quite a while now to protect both credit cards and debit cards and I really don’t think twice about sliding a credit card in and out of a sleeve anymore. But, of course, my cards do not have RFID so I’m probably just wasting my time. Moreover, I got to wondering whether they’re a waste of money regardless of having an RFID chip or not so I did a quick Google search and found this article from a few years back on RFID Skimmer Could Steal Your Credit Card Number While It’s Still in Your Wallet. The gist of the article is that there’s critical parts of the data that would be missing if a criminal did steal your credit card number, such as the three-digit security code on the back of the card, among other nerdy things that apparently make this not yet possible.
Now, the article was from about two years ago and two years with respect to technology is a LONG time so who knows what crafty criminals have come up with since then. At the very least I wouldn’t want my credit card number readily accessible to thieves even if they don’t have all of the information they needed to outright assume my identity. As such, I’ve used a “secure sleeve” such as this one for quite some time:
Apparently I could just as well have used aluminum foil instead. 😉
Obviously, the easiest way to ensure this doesn’t happen to you is to only and always carry cash but I’m a fan of having options and I see no reason not to carry a credit card in my wallet. For example, would you have enough cash in your wallet/purse to cover an unexpected major car repair, pay for a hotel room late at night, or buy a new 70″ flat-screen TV when you just went to Costco for some bulk rice and beans?
It should go without saying that there are far more likely ways that thieves can and will steal your credit card information, especially online. The point, however, was that I intend to do everything that I can to keep me from having unnecessary problems if I can reasonly do so. To me, spending $12 on “secure sleeves” is a small investment in my peace of mind even if it doesn’t currently do me any good and is unlikely to do so in the near future.
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