(Entertainment-NewsWire.com, January 05, 2016 ) Melbourne, Victoria -- Clever Nomad, a firm of travelers making useful products for travelers, has released a packet of 10 credit card and 2 passport RFID blocking sleeves.
Blocking Sleeves are used to cover credit cards, passports, driver's licenses, travel tickets, and other items that contain RFID chips, to prevent the personal information they contain from being illegally skimmed. RFID stands for Remote Frequency Identification and is the technology, for example, that allows shoppers to hover their credit cards over RFID reading machines that are found beside cash registers in stores when they pay for goods.
However, the tiny RFID chips that are inside credit cards – that can't even be seen – are a blessing and a curse.
Each chip carries the owner's personal information and are a blessing when used to quickly pay for goods. However, they are also a curse because a criminal can have the same type of RFID reader used in stores, simply hidden in their pocket, to steal the personal information credit cards contain.
For example, a criminal can walk past a person, or even sidle up beside them in a queue, and take the same credit card information that a store clerk needs to approve a sale – including the credit card owner's name, address, balance and PIN. In one case, a traveler from the USA went overseas and four days later saw a mysterious restaurant bill on their statement in excess of $500.00. The charge was made at a restaurant on the other side of the country being visited. A criminal had likely stolen their credit card details, probably at an airport, and used their credit card as though it was their own.
Other problems criminals can cause when credit card details are stolen include:
• Applying for separate credit cards in the name of the rightful owner • Opening a bank account in a victim's name • Applying for loans • Applying for other benefits • Applying for a driver's license • Applying for jobs • Applying for a passport • Applying for a phone contract • Registering a vehicle
Certainly these are disturbing matters that no credit card owner should have to worry about. Even if the provider of a credit card (normally a bank) refunds the victim's money, or the police catch the criminals, it will inevitably involve their time. Victims will likely be upset, stressed, may lose sleep, and feel robbed. Further, it may take years for a victim's full identity to be restored. And at any time they may have problems just using their true identity without others questioning who they are.
RFID blocking sleeves are a simple solution from personal information being stolen in the first place and are designed specifically for the purpose. The sleeves are the same size as a credit card. Each credit card is placed into a single sleeve and then stored away in their usual place – like a wallet.
The sleeves are constructed with a strong outer layer of card and an inner-lining of aluminum. Once in a sleeve, credit cards cannot be read by an RFID reader.
RFID chips are also found in many state driver's licenses, where the same size sleeves as the credit card sleeves, can be used to protect them. RFID Chips are also found in passports, and larger blocking sleeves are available for these. So, when people travel, or even just go walking to the store, it seems very wise for them to place their cards, license, and passport into the appropriate sleeve and feel reassured.
Clever Nomad Credit Card and Passport Blocking Sleeves also come with 2 Bonus Luggage Tags.
About Clever Nomad
Clever Nomad provides top quality travel accessories, all of which are designed by travelers for travelers.
Clever Nomad values product quality and customer service in equal measure and has a large and loyal customer community.
