Not much new here, but it was on "Good Morning America."

https://www.businessinsider.com/walmart-fake-credit-card-readers-look-real-how-avoid-skimmers-2023-7

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q3PfUjWmLFg

Of course, we all want to know when crooks like that are in our neighborhood. (I remember when such skimmers were attached to ATMs...right inside the local banks!)

But I'm (somewhat) amazed - in a bad way - when it comes to their tips on avoiding becoming a victim. That is, no one suggests the obvious move - that customers should switch to using cash as often as possible. (After all, customers would spend far less if they took that advice.) Even so, that's precisely what I do. As Jim Cramer said: "paying cash HURTS! All the more reason to use it!"

And yet...sorry to be lurid, but when a woman gets raped by a man she knows, you just know there will be a least a few people thinking, smugly: "A woman should never allow even a man she's known for years to be alone with her, since most men are just waiting to rape someone - how could SHE be so stupid? Why don't women take every precaution they can?"

Why the difference, I'd love to know? Why do some people still think that coming and going in society is a privilege for women, not a right?

As I mentioned elsewhere, when it comes to drunk drivers and their victims, you don't see cops going on the local news before a holiday weekend to tell SOBER people to stay off the roads - instead, the cops have the sense to warn DRINKERS to control their own behavior - or else!

(That may sound at odds with what I said before, but aside from the fact that drunk drivers don't mean to hurt anyone and so have to be reminded over and over as to what not to do, I think everyone should admit that the right to exist in public as a law-abiding citizen instead of locking yourself up is even MORE important than the right to carry your credit card everywhere.. I don't even like carrying it, because of those devices that thieves point at your pocket without even touching you - does anyone know what they're called?)

More on how thieves operate:

https://www.aura.com/learn/how-do-people-steal-credit-card-numbers

I don't even like carrying it, because of those devices that thieves point at your pocket without even touching you - does anyone know what they're called?)
__________________________________________

From this May:

https://financebuzz.com/what-is-rfid-blocking

(I could have sworn that the thief DOESN'T need to be that close in order to steal, though...)

More on that:

https://www.google.com/search?q=rfid+steal+credit+card+information+&rlz=1CARWDO_enUS1067&ei=-DW8ZM6oHY7i5NoPk_y-uAM&ved=0ahUKEwjOhJv0jaOAAxUOMVkFHRO-DzcQ4dUDCBA&uact=5&oq=rfid+steal+credit+card+information+&gs_lp=Egxnd3Mtd2l6LXNlcnAiI3JmaWQgc3RlYWwgY3JlZGl0IGNhcmQgaW5mb3JtYXRpb24gMggQIRigARjDBEjYOVCdBFiwMnABeAGQAQCYAZYBoAHtBKoBAzAuNbgBA8gBAPgBAcICChAAGEcY1gQYsAPCAgUQIRigAcICCBAhGBYYHhgdwgIIEAAYCBgHGB7CAggQABgFGAcYHsICCBAAGIoFGIYD4gMEGAAgQYgGAZAGCA&sclient=gws-wiz-serp

And apparently, heavy tin foil works pretty well as protection.

And this is fascinating - for sad reasons.

"Am I too paranoid about RFID credit card/identity theft?"

https://www.reddit.com/r/RBI/comments/12vgiak/am_i_too_paranoid_about_rfid_credit_cardidentity/

This, in particular:

GoodyAnders
"I'm a person of color, so when shopping I always follow 'The Rules' to avoid trouble. For example, I carry a small, slim purse that only has room for my phone, wallet, and keys, and I never open it in the store until I'm at the register. I wasn't wearing or carrying a coat, I don't wear baggy or oversized clothes that would allow me to hide items. I keep my hands visible at all times. I stand arm's length away from shelves when I need to look for a specific item. I don't linger too long in any one spot. I don't gawk around at other people like I'm watching them, or looking for security and cameras. If he was store security and felt the need to watch me, his decision wasn't based on my behavior.

"The thing that drew my attention to him was how quickly and furtively he raised the phone to his ear, but I saw it in my peripheral vision, I didn't turn and look at him. It's possible he could have taken a picture before he put the phone away."

And, from the same thread:

cuddlefeeeshy
"If it helps, current fraud trends indicate that data breaches and malware are on the rise rather than scanners/RFID theft. Be mindful of suspicious downloads, phishing, password protection, and public scanners for cards and ports for chargers and you’re less likely to be subject to fraud. Also, sign up for life lock or something similar to track any suspicious activity."

It turns out that RBI (in the URL) means Reddit Bureau of Investigation.