Do you tap to pay? 'Ghost tapping' scams could target your money

"The ease of use means the ease of stealing. There are pieces of software and devices that are doing exactly the same thing that a point of sale does and it's transacting on your phone or on your credit card and if you don't have a thumbprint or a biometric on your phone, they can walk up and if you're not paying attention in a crowded area, they get close enough and they touch your phone they can do a transaction."

"If you have a credit card with a chip, which all of us do, make sure that you protect that chip. Don't leave the card out. Don't have it in the back pocket without any protection. Where someone could walk up and tap it."

"Fraud analysts say claims tied to ghost tapping have surged by 150% during the past year. Experts warn that scammers often target crowded places where people may be distracted, including malls and airports."

Ghost tapping scams involve criminals using NFC technology to conduct unauthorized transactions on tap-to-pay enabled phones and credit cards. Scammers exploit the convenience of tap-to-pay systems by using software and devices that mimic point-of-sale terminals, targeting victims in crowded locations like malls and airports where people are distracted. Fraud claims related to ghost tapping have surged 150% over the past year. Victims often discover the theft only after reviewing their bank or credit card statements. Protection measures include enabling transaction alerts, securing cards from exposure, using biometric authentication on phones, and regularly monitoring statements for suspicious activity.

Read at ABC11 Raleigh-Durham