Copyright Staten Island Advance
As the holiday season draws nearer, consumer experts are cautioning shoppers and event goers to tap with caution. According to the Better Business Bureau, consumers using debit cards to tap and pay are falling victim to a new scam dubbed “ghost tapping.” Tap-to-pay cards use “near field communication” technology, which allows devices to exchange data at very close range. But fraudsters are reportedly using their own wireless devices to pick up the signal of a victim’s card and charge it. Here are some ways they’re doing it, according to the consumer protection agency: Scammers get close to a victim who is paying at a register or turnstile, and use their own device to access and charge the victim’s card or virtual wallet; Scammers pretend to be a vendor at events like flea markets or festivals, and/or set up fake stands and ask for tap payments; Charity scams use tap-to-pay for a small donation, but then charge the card for a larger amount. How to know if you’re being scammed
