There is a new type of theft, and it's sweeping the malls and night clubs of America.
We all know what Identity Theft is and how it takes place. Someone pretends to be you to get credit accounts then drags your name through the mud. It takes years to clear up (if ever) and your life is never the same.
Most victims tell us they have been extremely careful with their data. Shredding all papers, never using their accounts online, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera.
Their major statement? "I don't know how they got my account information!"
Ladies and gentlemen, I give you "Wireless Identity Theft".
It is made possible by the technology we call "RFID" or Radio Frequency Identification. The banking institutions are embedding your debit and credit cards with a transponder that has all your private banking information encoded into it. This is to enable you to move through the checkout line quicker. A simple matter of convenience, right?
Well, here's how it works: The register or Point Of Sale (POS) device broadcasts a certain frequency telling the card it's near a terminal, and you're trying to make a purchase. The cards respond with your banking information and the charge is processed.
Well, the hacking community is all over this with a fury. Just Google (use the quotes) "RFID Hacking" and you'll find more than 10,000 websites (12,300 as of this writing on April 28th, 2008) detailing this crime, how to perpetrate it, the software and hardware required, and so on.
The hackers are teaching people how to become thieves in this mostly un-prosecuted field.
So, how do you protect yourself?
There's one solution that works every time. Go to a "Cash-Only" protocol. Have no cards (Real ID's, State I.D.'s, Library, frequent shopper cards or more) at all.
Let's assume you don't want to do without your cards, and you don't want to move to Siberia or a desert island somewhere. There is really only one choice. you're going to have to Firewall Your Wallet.
Now, I'll say it here so it's right out in the open. I found out about this last year (March of '07) and decided to do something about it. My wife and I did. We developed the best RF-Shield in the world, founded ArmadilloDollar.com, and that's what brings me here to you today.
Of course, I want you to go to our website and get one of our protectors. You deserve the best.
Whatever you do, you are now aware of a danger you may have only got a hint of before. Whatever you do (or DON'T do) it's now your responsibility to get your cards protected. Otherwise, you're pretty likely to wind up another statistic on the "Unsolved Crimes" sheet, like about 95% of all theft of this kind.
Do some research and prove to yourself what's up. Then, figure out what you want to do about it.
Maybe I'll see you in Fiji!