By Dan Kihato
Integrate a contactless card machine and accept payments as a business, and make payments as a customer. It is fast, easy to use, and incredibly safe thanks to its built-in security and encryption.
Despite being one of the safest ways to make or accept payments, we still get many questions about how to use contactless cards and machines safely. If you are a customer that worries about using a contactless card, or a business owner looking to reassure customers, here are some simple steps you take to keep card details safe and secure while using a contactless card machine.
Never Lend Your Card to a Friend
If your card is in your hands, you have full control over what happens with it. Take the right precautions to keep it safe and out of reach for thieves.
Even if you are sure you trust somebody — your closest friend, for example — to take care of your card, how can you be certain he/she takes the same precautions as you?
It is best to keep your card to yourself. If the trusted person nips out to do you a favor or if you lend him/her some money, there are other ways to do this without giving him/her your card. For example, use cash or complete a simple bank transfer.
Do Not Let Your Card Out of Your Sight When in Use
Technical faults with card machines happen all the time, and usually the cashier tells you to take your card back while any problems are resolved. If a cashier mentions there are technical issues and wants to go to the back to sort them out, make sure you take your card back first.
Never let anyone take your card when you are unable to see what he/she is up to. Since you do not need to physically put your card in a machine and enter your PIN, it is possible for your card to be taken away to a terminal to process a payment. Anyone has the capability to tap your card and make payments.
You end up being overcharged and you put your card at risk of being cloned. How you can be sure your card is safe if you do not know or cannot see what is happening to it?
Always Tap Your Card Yourself on a Contactless Card Machine
It is not massively uncommon for staff to take your card and put it into a machine or tap it for you, especially in places like restaurants and in some retail stores. Professional and responsible cashiers never try to overcharge you, but there’s no way of you checking beforehand as you aren’t able to see the amount the cashier keys in.
To avoid running into any problems, never hand your card over to a cashier, and tap or insert it into the machine yourself. This way, you know how much you paid and that your card details are intact.
Always Check the Amount You are Paying
When you use a contactless card, it is easy to just tap it without paying much attention to the amount charged. With this said, it’s also easy for cashiers to make mistakes when keying in the amounts, and you possibly end up overpaying.
If you’ve not paid attention to the amount you pay, then you won’t know you’ve been charged incorrectly for an item or service until it appears on your bank statement, and there’s little to do about it at this point. Always see the card machine and your charges to resolve any issues before you complete a transaction.
Always Get a Receipt After Using a Contactless Card Machine
Most of us see receipts as hassles and just papers we have to carry around. They’re more than this though, and always make sure you get one in case you need to query a discrepancy in a payment made.
Without a receipt, there isn’t much a cashier can do to resolve any issues, as you have no way of proving an overcharge for an item or service. Keeping receipts also easily keeps track of how much you spend.
Always Report Suspicious Activity
It’s extremely important to check your bank statements regularly. Check it at least once a week to make sure everything is in order. Go through all your transactions and make sure you’re able to place them.
If you ever notice activity on your account that doesn’t look right, or if you receive a suspicious email or text, report it to your bank and Action Fraud ASAP.
Change Your PIN
If you think someone saw you enter your PIN number, change it as soon as possible.
Although it’s possible for any person to tap your card (if it’s contactless) if the person gets his/her hands on it, he/she will sometimes be asked for your PIN number for larger purchases, or after spending a certain amount.
If the person has your PIN, this won’t be a problem for him/her at all, but if you change it, the person won’t be able to use your card. Choose something that isn’t obvious to a stranger if he/she has your card ― such as your birthday, wedding anniversary, or the last 4 digits of your phone number.
Never give your PIN number out to anyone. This includes people you trust like close friends or family members ― as tempting as it is.
Get an RFID Blocker
Contactless payment is the key to quick and streamlined payments, especially as the UK moves closer to becoming a cashless society. The cards and machines are already incredibly safe, and the technology built into them makes it very difficult for anyone to “skim” your card while it’s in your pocket.
Contactless card fraud rates are low, and according to a report by Which? it’s equivalent to 2p in every £100. If you’re still not convinced and want extra security, buy an RFID blocking sleeve.
RFID stands for “radio frequency identification.” Contactless debit and credit cards use this technology to allow machines to scan them from a short distance. RFID blocking materials are effective in preventing these so-called skimming attacks, in which a thief essentially withdraws money from your account as he/she walks by you in the street or waits behind you in a queue.
Buy wallets with RFID blocking capabilities to protect you from contactless attacks. In addition, grab a sheet of tinfoil from your kitchen and it has the same effect.
Use a Contactless Card Machine and Stay Safe at the Same Time
Contactless cards and machines are miles safer than you probably think. It’s possible for anyone to take your card and pay for things by simply tapping it to a machine. However, there are many things you can do as a retailer and measures put in place by your customers’ card issuers to prevent contactless card fraud. If you get a contactless card machine from a reputable provider, the necessary security controls and processes come already built-in. Therefore, you start accepting faster, safer payments as soon as possible.
