RFID Blocking Wallets- anyone use one?
- Thread starter Milf Dots
- Start date
In this day and age with all your ATM and Credit cards being the new contact, touch / flash to pay, it's not a bad idea to have RFID blocking wallets as a rule.
It's not really that hard, essentially you just need some foil and an insulator of the right type along the outside of your wallet. There is a pretty good chance you could retrofit something into the billfold portion if you had a favourite wallet you didn't want to give up.
It's not really that hard, essentially you just need some foil and an insulator of the right type along the outside of your wallet. There is a pretty good chance you could retrofit something into the billfold portion if you had a favourite wallet you didn't want to give up.
I have one.
Not that I went out of my way getting that feature but it just happened to have it.
It “ de-magnetizes “ the chip card, or at least mine does something like that. ( guessing at that )
9/10 times it will not read the chip unless you build a static charge on it (rub it on your shirt). The card works just fine after that.
Not that I went out of my way getting that feature but it just happened to have it.
It “ de-magnetizes “ the chip card, or at least mine does something like that. ( guessing at that )
9/10 times it will not read the chip unless you build a static charge on it (rub it on your shirt). The card works just fine after that.
Personally, I’m more concerned by servers taking my check and card out of sight to close out a bill than I am of some rando sniffing my CC info from my wallet. Hell, my personal experience has been that a corporate data breech is a bigger concern than needing an rfid wallet.
Well, I kinda agree with you, but did have my info stolen once when I inadvertently walked between two young punks entering a gas station store. By the time I got home, they had already tried to purchase a few hundred dollars worth of online crap.
I’m fortunate that my card is through a credit union that keeps good tabs on things like that.
Its an attack that is pretty hard to perform. I wouldn't buy a new wallet to protect against it but if I needed a new wallet anyways and what I was looking at offered the feature I'd buy it.
Also, if you haven't already done it set up your charge and debit cards to notify you via text anytime they are used. That will save you some headaches when somebody eventually steals your card number.
Also, if you haven't already done it set up your charge and debit cards to notify you via text anytime they are used. That will save you some headaches when somebody eventually steals your card number.
Saddleback Leather has been my go-to for leather goods for a decade plus. They have RFID blocking wallets, are high quality full grain leather and made in America.
saddlebackleather.com
Leather Wallets | Full Grain Slim RFID Bifold | Saddleback
These full grain leather wallets for men are the most durable, longest lasting wallet we know of. Backed by a 100 Year Warranty. They'll fight over it when you're dead.
saddlebackleather.com
I have a supposedly shielded wallet and believe my card STILL got snagged in a particular encounter.
So, no I've added these:
So, no I've added these:
Don't use or carry a debit card. You're well protected against all unauthorized use of a CC by Federal law.
To dispute unauthorized charges, send a letter to the credit card company at the address given for this purpose, not the address for sending your payments. Include your name, address, account number, and a description of the billing error. You may use the Federal Trade Commission's sample letter. Send your letter so that it reaches the creditor within 60 days after the first bill showing the unauthorized charge. (12 C.F.R. § 1026.13).
Reporting a Credit Card as Stolen or Lost
Under the Fair Credit Billing Act, your liability for unauthorized charges depends on whether the thief personally presented your card to make the purchase or just stole the number.- If the thief personally presents your card to make the purchase, the card issuer can't hold you liable for more than $50 in fraudulent charges. (12 C.F.R. § 1026.12). Many card issuers waive this $50.
- You have no liability if the thief stole the number but not the card.
To dispute unauthorized charges, send a letter to the credit card company at the address given for this purpose, not the address for sending your payments. Include your name, address, account number, and a description of the billing error. You may use the Federal Trade Commission's sample letter. Send your letter so that it reaches the creditor within 60 days after the first bill showing the unauthorized charge. (12 C.F.R. § 1026.13).
Visa/MC debit cards have the same protections. I’ve dealt with it, more than a few times, and I got every stolen penny back either immediately or within 24 hours, depending on what time of day/week I called in the fraud.
What I don’t carry is a credit card, because I don’t even have one.
Those are benefits provided by the card carrier. A CC is covered under law regardless of the benefits of the card provider. So, you're covered until you're not. I would never use or carry a debit card. I can pay off any of my CCs at any time online. I generally pay several times a month and rarely if ever wait until the end of the billing cycle.
Do any debit cards provide points or cash back benefits now?
My daughter got me a www.trayvax.com as a gift.
Looking at their website it says they have a military & First responder discount.
Made in USA , RFID Protection. I like it
All I carry is a $5.00 bill , library card , Insurance card , my lucky condom 
Looking at their website it says they have a military & First responder discount.
Made in USA , RFID Protection. I like it
All I carry is a $5.00 bill , library card , Insurance card , my lucky condom
Last edited:
Protection wise, my bank has a seamless difference between the two. Yes, federal laws differ, but gaps in the law have bank policies and regulations which are still a binding contract between them and me were I to have to take them to court over it. But I am 99.9999% sure it will never come to that, because I don’t do business with shitty institutions. I’ve been through it, mostly overseas, and they’ve stood behind me every time.
What I don’t need is a line of credit, because I don’t borrow money outside of my home mortgage. Points and cash back are just bait in my mind, and millions of consumers buy into them thinking they’ll just pay it off each month, only to have a life blip that costs them.
I get it that you and millions others do pay their cards off every month, on time and with zero incurred interest, but I see the cards as gimmicks that I want no association with in my life.
Nanny state laws, written by lobbyists and passed by politicians in the pockets of the banks to dupe more people into a debt vehicle, aren’t going to change my mind either.
I had my AMEX number stolen and they ran up about $80,000. It was all taken care of by AMEX without issue. Had a couple of other minor incidents and the bank took care of it quickly.
The chip cards are more secure that the magnetic strip cards as they are much more difficult to replicate than a mag stripe. Even then I rarely carry my wallet as I hate having anything really in my pockets - usually stays locked in the truck or in the house at night. My wallet has scan protection though I have no idea if it works - the wallet I liked had it already when I bought it.
I use AMEX all the time and they have really come though when I've had product issues surrounding delivery or simply something went wrong with the product after purchase (but after the 30 day or whatever return period). Some perks are good - I can access most airport lounges if I have a layover and am slumming on Southwest or something where there are no meaningful amenities. Its paid off monthly. Points pile up - I've got enough points for a free Garmin Xero and may grab one.
That’s vewy vewy twue.Being retired and poor has its benefits.
We ain't got no money to steal...
I have a Ridge, haven’t tested it. I’ve been carrying a money clip lately. They sell a RFID blocking card.
I tested it about 30 mins ago. Swiped / tapped the loaded money clip…. Nothing.
Took the RFID cards out with my CC. Tapped and swiped. Said select / try another card.
I guess it works.
I tested it about 30 mins ago. Swiped / tapped the loaded money clip…. Nothing.
Took the RFID cards out with my CC. Tapped and swiped. Said select / try another card.
I guess it works.
Attachments
Frankly, all my shit is covered so I don’t have to worry about this. I wouldn’t carry a card that’s not in this day and age.
I don’t carry a wallet so a hair tie just keeps my cash and cards together in my front pocket. I’ve just done this for years so it’s worked for me. I travel everywhere and never had a problem.
Pointedly no. I have a slightly weird hand-made wallet with four card compartments that has the footprint of a normal billfold. I have the card I mostly pay for stuff with on the "inside" of the wallet when folded. When I unfold it, I can tap the wallet to pay without removing cards, reducing risk of loss, etc.
From the other side, enough cards in the way it won't scan even at contact distance.
The other cards I have are immediately next to each other in the next slot in, which makes them interfere with each other so you get gibberish if you try to scan them.
Remote attacks to steal RFID data is very very hard to do, mostly difficult to exploit due to needs for PIN during the live transaction, etc. but these sorts of tactics make it near-impossible to remote scan /at any time/, since the cards almost never leave the wallet.
From the other side, enough cards in the way it won't scan even at contact distance.
The other cards I have are immediately next to each other in the next slot in, which makes them interfere with each other so you get gibberish if you try to scan them.
Remote attacks to steal RFID data is very very hard to do, mostly difficult to exploit due to needs for PIN during the live transaction, etc. but these sorts of tactics make it near-impossible to remote scan /at any time/, since the cards almost never leave the wallet.
Similar threads
