[maistocars]

Originally Posted by retiredguy123

Apparently, using "tap-to-pay" where available, avoids the skimming problem.

Unfortunately, I haven't seen any Walmart have the tap-to-pay readers.

[Michael G.]

This all boils down to what?
Not completely fool proof, but I'm a big believer.
Freeze your credit,
The sooner the better.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by Michael G.

This all boils down to what?
Not completely fool proof, but I'm a big believer.
Freeze your credit,
The sooner the better.

Freezing your credit does not affect skimming at all

[shut the front door]

Originally Posted by maistocars

Unfortunately, I haven't seen any Walmart have the tap-to-pay readers.

They all do, and have had for quite some time.

[daniel200]

Originally Posted by shut the front door

They all do, and have had for quite some time.

Some clarification here.
Walmart does not accept “tap to pay” because they do not use terminals with NFC (near field communications). So they do not accept Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Google Pay, credit/debit cards with “tap to pay” feature. All of these services use and require NFC technology.

Walmart Pay does not use NFC. It uses a different technology that generates a QR code on the terminal to securely communicate the transaction. Walmart Pay can only be used at Walmart affiliated locations and nowhere else.

Walmart terminals do have EMV chip readers. So if your card has an EMV chip, you can pay by inserting the EMV chip into the terminal. This is more secure than swiping the strip. But as noted in the original post, if someone has hacked the terminal with a skimmer, the act of inserting your EMV chip can allow the skimmer to read the swipe strip data. Tap to pay does not have this skimmer risk.

[MrChip72]

Originally Posted by CoachKandSportsguy

That would make the device easier to find, as you just need a Bluetooth signal strength meter to scan/sweep the store. . . and since they have the creeps on video, they should be able to find the particular skimmer fairly quickly.

This would not work at all. Everyone with a smartphone including employees has a bluetooth signal. Everyone with wireless headphones is emitting a bluetooth signal. Everyone wearing a smartwatch is emitting a bluetooth signal...

[patfla06]

Is there anyway for us to check for a skimming device??

[retiredguy123]

Originally Posted by patfla06

Is there anyway for us to check for a skimming device??

Not likely

[frayedends]

Not fool proof, but grab the credit card keypad and give it a pull, make sure it's secure. Many of the skimmers can be pulled off fairly easily. Although I'm sure the thieves are getting better at it.

[kp11364]

Originally Posted by Bill14564

In addition, the information that does get sent is encrypted with one-time key. A skimmer would not be able to use the recorded information to make a purchase and would not be able to decrypt the information to see if the card number is in there.

I would be very interested in anything that says tap-to-pay can be skimmed. Google hasn't found anything for me yet.

I'm not sure how, but it can be done. The tap-to-pay/access hack is most often used in ATMs. They gum up the card slot and a "helpful customer" tells you to use tap instead.

[Bill14564]

Originally Posted by kp11364

I'm not sure how, but it can be done. The tap-to-pay/access hack is most often used in ATMs. They gum up the card slot and a "helpful customer" tells you to use tap instead.

Not skimming or hacking at all - carelessness by the user.


Here is a report about it.