Overview
- The Better Business Bureau says criminals are using portable NFC readers to initiate unauthorized contactless charges on cards and mobile wallets.
- Reported tactics include crowd bumping, pop-up or festival stands, rushed taps that obscure the amount, and door-to-door solicitations.
- BBB Scam Tracker entries detail losses ranging from small debits to hundreds of dollars, including $537, $1,100 and a $100 Missouri case.
- Scammers often start with small charges to slip past bank fraud detection, so victims may notice days or weeks later.
- Officials urge enabling instant transaction alerts, using RFID-blocking sleeves, verifying the merchant and amount or using chip or swipe in risky settings, contacting your bank immediately, and filing a report with the BBB, which is continuing to gather cases.