Do contactless cards expose you to fraud?

Barclays have just issued me with a new debit card as they have told me that my details may have been taken from my old card. When I questioned them on this they suggested that a shop assistant had been copying card numbers and I had used my card in this shop so they were doing this as a precaution. I never associated this with the fact that the card was contactless as I never use this feature. Having to change my card details with all my online accounts is a big inconvenience. Couple this with the security issues of these contactless cards and it’s not worth all the bother. Back to the drawing board I think Barclays.

My son who just started university this year was offered one of these contactless cards which he very sensibly declined. He was told that items upto £15 could be paid for with it and when he asked, what if someone got hold of it and went on a spending spree would he be liable? and the bank replied “not if you can prove that it was stolen or that u lost it”

How on earth do you “prove” u lost a card or had it stolen???? I have had cards lost or stolen before now and never had to prove it. i couldn’t!

The answer to this is:
1. Use the card to identify you with the central computer.
2. Then a palm scanner used at the point of purchase of goods to scan the Palm of your hand a copy of which is held on your computer record identified by your card.

The palm of your hand having previously be taken by the card issuer or other body for comparison

If the two items match then the sale goes ahead.

Basically Chip and Hand.

Also stops people lending their cards to there friends or relatives or their kids using them.

The only loophole would be somebody copying your card and copying the electronic signature of your Palm which of course would be possible at the retailers, ATM etc. Just chip and pin numbers you enter at present are copied by the retailer or ATM etc.
The basic rule is if it is electronicaly captured it can always be cloned.

Yes indeed but I’d say rather they know exactly what is wrong with these cards however everything revolves around numbers –> money. For sure they have calculated that incomes will be higher than thefts.

I’ve received two replacement cards recently, a credit card from Barclays and a debit card from Lloyds/TSB, both had the “contactless” logo. I wrote to both companies asking for a card without this facility which I see as being of little benefit to me and a major security risk. Lloyds say they will provide such a card (though it hasn’t arrived yet). Barclays say they will not, therefore I am closing my Barclays account. I also have a M&S credit card which expires in November. I checked with them and received a reply saying that they do not provide a “contactless” facility. Let’s hope this remains so.

I have recently been sent contactless cards by CapitalOne – long before my current cards are due to expire – on the pretext that they need to replace my cards because my details on the current cards “may” have been compromised.

I believe that this is a totally dishonest move by CapitalOne , done for purely commercial reasons, because they believe that transaction volumes (and hence their profits) will increase if people don’t have to enter PINs. I have challenged them to provide evidence that my current cards are really ay risk, and have asked them what proportion of their customer base are having their cards replaced early because their details “may” have been compromised. Not surprisingly, answer came there none on either count!

I am very unhappy about the security issues with contactless cards – and cancelled my Barclaycard when they first introduced the feature. It looks as if I’ve now come to the end of the road with CapitalOne!

Does anyone know of a credit card which pays a reasonable level of cashback, and which is unlikely to go contactless?

WT

I am still worried about the security issues around contactless cards, especially after seeing this youtube video. Are we safe in the UK from this possible ‘skimming’?

When the vulnerability of contactless cards was first publicised a couple of years ago, I asked Barclaycard to provide me with a replacement card without this facility. They refused, so I cancelled my account with them – I’m glad I did so.

I’ve been a victim of contactless credit card fraud and got here via search on the internet to see if anyone else has been affected. Noticed only many weeks later as the people spoofed the name of a genuine business (well named it almost identical to a business I use regularly to get my lunch). They spent £9 via contactless payment which is very odd but it was to a fake company. It must have been cloned somehow. The credit card company was reluctant to give any information.
It’s hard to spot unless you check your statement regularly.
I was refunded in full by the card issuer and the card was blocked and a new one supplied.
I have no idea how the scammers got my details but I use my card for everything. Last year I spent over 14K on my card and the payments go out via direct debit. I use my card abroad and also make purchases internationally via the internet.
My advice: check your statements regularly and don’t just assume the label you see on your statement refers to a genuine sale.
The credit card companies are generally very nice and supportive so no need to panic but don’t ignore your statements. Get a phone app and it’s easier to keep track.
Hope this is useful to someone.

We have devised a simple and economic system to totally combat card fraud, which also includes payments by mobile phone, but no one seems interested. We believe this is because we are always referred to Card Fraud offices, who make their living only whilst card fraud exists. Using this system, all easily possible with existing technology, any one could parade around wearing their account number printed on their t-shirt and still no one could access their money. There are many other very appealing aspects to our proposal that will interest consumers greatly but no one wants to listen. Do you ?

I have seen a ‘Skimguard’ card advertised that is supposed to protect your contactless cards from being accessed by ‘electronic pickpockets at a distance’. Does anyone know anything about these and do they work?