How To Guard Against Financial And Identity Theft When Travelling

SYDNEY - Jan. 19, 2017 - PRLog -- The convenience of Tap and Go and PayWave technology has given rise to an invisible, criminal threat. Gone are the days of sleight of hand pickpockets. The thief doesn't even have to be that close to you these days. Readily available 'skimming' devices allow criminals to steal credit and debit card information – often in busy transport hubs. The theft is quick and easy. Fortunately, guarding against these crimes is even easier but most people just aren't aware it exists. By placing a special RFID card in a wallet or purse, the signals used to steal card details are blocked.

"The bad news is, the risk or threat of being the victim of a digital crime is very real" claims Rogan Carroll of Going Expert, the free holiday destination travel guides founder.  "It's common, and reported incidents are increasing at an alarming rate across the world. The fact is it's not difficult for criminals to scan, or harvest unsecured credit and debit card information or passport details. The threat is not just financial either; identity details are being stolen, which is often a far greater problem to a victim than a financial crime."

The reason travellers are particularly vulnerable and at risk is because busy public and transport hubs, not to mention hotel lobbies, are commonly used by criminals engaged in these activities. The sheer number of people moving in these areas means easy targets and a large number of cards scanned at one time, the distracted nature of passengers rushing to make flights, trains, trams and buses or the disorientation of a traveller in a foreign country: combined, it creates an environment that can be exploited.

"Can you imagine going to the bank for a loan in 2 years' time only to find that your credit rating is shot. Your identity was stolen 2 years ago. We know a family member that this happened to and it took him 10 years to even come close to getting his life back." Carroll states.

This type of fraud used on your credit card, license, passport or anything else with a chip holding all of your information is very real and not just limited to Travel. It can happen in shopping malls, universities or even just waiting for the local train.

But you can protect against these real cyber-attacks simply and effectively. Travel Guard (http://www.travelguard.net.au/shop/?ref=136), a credit card sized device blocks any signals attacking your credit card, or passport. Fortunately, with Travel Guard, the risk of being skimmed is eliminated – completely.

Card details are stored on RFID chips inside your credit and debit cards and most passports, which can be breached from a distance of up to 20 metres (65ft) using an RFID scanner.

It looks just like a credit card, except a little thicker, and slips into your wallet or purse right in between chip based cards. It uses E-field technology, able to block the threatening signals that put card and identity details at risk. E-Field is the technology that blocks the threatening signals dispersed by scanning devices. E-field is an auto response electronic field, which is triggered by the signals used to detect and steal information stored on credit and debit cards. E-field provides a protective perimeter around cards the second they become vulnerable

Travel Guard doesn't require its own power source either, so a user doesn't have to remember to turn it on, which is perfect for the tired traveller, or busy commuter, student or shopper. It draws power from the signals being broadcast by skimming devices, in an attempt to steal information; the very devices that pose a threat, provide Travel Guard with a power source. Once Travel Guard is placed in a wallet or purse or passport, it can be forgotten. It will activate automatically when it detects a threat. It protects multiple cards too.

A question often asked by travellers is "Should I protect my passport"? While there's no financial risk to a passport being skimmed, there's certainly the risk of an identity related crime being carried out. The information held on a passport can be stolen. The safest and cheapest form of insurance to guard against this possibility is to place Travel Guard inside your passport, ideally in a Travel Guard passport holder (http://www.travelguard.net.au/shop/?ref=136). The Travel Guard passport holder is enabled with the same blocking, E-Field technology as the Travel Guard card. A passport, and any credit cards stored in the Travel Guard Passport holder will be protected from all threatening RFID signals. For more information on either the Travel Guard Card or the Passport Holder, visit Travel Guard. (http://www.travelguard.net.au/shop/?ref=136)

If you're planning a holiday, use the free holiday destination travel guides at www.Going.Expert. To get the best from your holiday and to save money on your travel bookings, search and contact one of the travel agents registered on Going Expert, who have been where you are going. And to ensure you come back from your holiday with your finances and identity in tact, use Travel Guard.