RFID wallets do they really work?
 

We are looking into purchasing the wallets/ handbags with the RFID included . Any suggestions on brands please, or do you give them a plus or minus? Thanks, Sharon

PacSafe makes lots of bags, etc. REI has them, check their outlet online.

Question is, why do you think you need to shell out some money for these?

I wouldn't bother with a bag, but I will be using a folder for my passport on my next trip. Mainhattengirl - the personal info on the RFID chip is not encrypted and can be read by anyone with the right equipment.

Get a piece of aluminum foil!

I am curious - has this actually happened to anyone? What are the stats on this kind of theft? I only ask because I have never heard of this actually happening and I am curious about how frequently it occurs.

According to this rather old article US passports already have a metal shield built into them: http://www.economist.com/node/14066895

They are also encrypted, so need an encryption key to read the data. OK it is a simple key and can be hacked, but seriously I very much doubt your passport is at risk of being read by anyone. These RFID protectors are a marketing ploy imho.

Confusing

RFID is a form of electronic identification, whereby an electrical field stimulates (power and request signal) a chip to tell a machine what data it has. Ranges vary from 10mm for your "companion animal tag" to 150mm for a sheep tag. Most payment cards have a range of 100mm or so but high energy stimulation and fine tuning can extend this considerably (for the thief the issue would be life of battery)

"RFID Shielding", is a different matter and protects the chip from the initial electical stimulas and is really just a Faraday's cage. Any good conducting material will do and can even be a mesh, aluminium or aluminum foil will do.

Key uses,
1) to limit ID theft in public places and
2) to restrict card money theft by passing criminals or indeed spending money from the "wrong" card in your wallet

I've worked in the industry and if you are storing either your passport or cards outside a Faraday's cage you are going to have a problem one day.

Still fascinating article about reading from within a metal cage (I'm struggling with the science there), I've never succeeded but hey you live and learn, I shall wind up the old piana and see if I can bust my credit card.

Bilbo - interesting. How frequently does this theft occur? It doesn't really make headlines that I have seen so I have never really thought much of it.

The credit card, wrong card thing, is beginning to be a problem already, though all the major retailers in the UK say it never happens, individuals are finding it happens when they put their purse or wallet on the desk prior to paying. Still low levels. If you card has the little )))) symbols on it then at allows contactless payment (as does the card on the TUBE I believe) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-24743920. Contactless is limited to £20.

ID theft from passports, I've not seen any figures and since passport theft is so easy and ATM theft is so easy why would you (as a thief) spend money developing much in this area. I don't work in that field so I have no insider info.

Good news on the sheep front, you just tear the thing out of the sheeps ear. Hence expensive animals have one inside their stomach! Cats and dogs are easy, just one nick and it's out.

Thanks bilbo! Mine don't have contact less abilities but I have seem warning signs regarding the tube and buses - don't keep your oyster with your bank cards!!!

I can't imagine the passport is theft being rampant so won't give it much thought.

I bought a rfid passport/credit card wallet on ebay cheap. I wouldn't spend a lot on them but was looking for a new passport holder and saw the rfid one so bought it.

"I can't imagine the passport is theft being rampant"

You won't care if it's rampant or not if you are a victim. Passports are valuable - just see the two passengers on the Air Malaysian jet who were traveling with stolen passports.

They didn't have their info stolen in this manner...obviously passport theft is bad! But I meant having it stolen in this fashion is not rampant so I am not going to buy a special wallet for it.

Good conversation y'all. I read a review and the review said the PacSafe were not working at all.
So, my question was do any of them work or is this another scam to make us travelers amp up our bags/ c.card holders... I carry a regular crossbody, zip top and a small wallet inside that. I don't worry as out theft, because I'm very careful. I keno it can happen to anyone, but we do make the thief work for the money, so to speak.
Thank you all, very interesting conversation!

The pacsafe has more features than just the RFID; it has a strap that can't be [easily] cut; all the zipper clip close and other similar features.

I would like to see the review; can you please post it here?

I have to admire pacsafe. They have made a lot of money by hyping fear. And as for the RFID wallets, yet another "let's create panic to enrich ourselves" movement.


But where are you probably most likely to be ripped off....at home where you don't live in the "security bubble" of special products. Just use your credit card at Target. LOL

By the way, here is the review on the wallet

http://www.amazon.com/review/RDRIL17...#RDRIL17FPDK13

Probably pretty true of any of these products LOL

I don't know if they work or not or if they give in to fear mongering, but one person who write an anonymous review on website doesn't necessarily = an expert. Just look around
here! ;)