What is RFID? How Does RFID Work?
What is RFID Skimming?
From Wikipedia: "RFID Skimming is a form of digital theft, which enables information from RFID based smart cards to be read and duplicated. It can be used as a form of wireless identity theft or credit card theft among other forms of information theft. Typically it works by illegitimate reading of RFID chips at a distance using a cheap RFID reader device, which downloads the card information. From there, it can be written to a new blank card, which then operates in the same manner as the original legitimate card."
What is WalletGuard?
WalletGuard is Rogue Industries' shielding, used in the lining of our wallets, clutches and credit card sleeves. It blocks the transmission of Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) waves at 13.56mHz.
How does WalletGuard block RFID signals on contactless credit cards?
By creating a Faraday Cage. The metal barrier used in WalletGuard is RFID-blocking, or "electromagnetically opaque" as it is known to the US Government department that regulates this type of thing. You can learn more on the Wikipedia page here. The material itself is remarkably thin so that it won't bulk up your purse or wallet.
Does WalletGuard block RFID signals if an Apple AirTag is placed in the wallet or card sleeve?
Our RFID material blocks at 13.56 Mhz. Here is info on the air tags: Apple AirTags use Ultra-Wideband (UWB) technology, which uses a radio frequency spectrum of 3.1 GHz–10.6 GHz. Each radio channel can have a bandwidth greater than 500 MHz. The AirTag has three antennas inside:
- Bluetooth Low Energy: 2.4 GHz
- NFC: 13.56 MHz
- Ultra-WideSo this means that one of the three internal antennae would be blocked. band: 6.5–8 GHz
So this means that one of the three internal antennae would be blocked. Only the Heritage Wallets would be the safest, as they do not contain RFID protection.
The sleeves appear to be nothing more than a sheet of paper—how could they possibly stop ID Theft?
The paper is indeed both very thin and flexible—but it is also an amazing piece of technology. Sandwiched between the inner and outer layers of paper is the nano thin layer of metal—and it is precisely this metal layer which provides the barrier for RFID protection. This combination of paper and metal bonded together creates an exceedingly durable sleeve.
How many cards can the sleeves hold?
The sleeves are designed to only hold one credit card per sleeve
Does it matter which way you insert the card into the sleeve?
It does not matter how you insert a credit card into the sleeve. The entire sleeve is constructed with a 3-layered material (the inside layer is a metal coating). This envelopes and protects the entire card.
Do you have a patent on the top-loading sleeve design?
Yes.
For an ID theft to occur, does the thief need to physically gain possession of the credit card?
In the past, this was indeed the case. But no more. Now an ID thief can steal the information with a readily available skimmer and remotely access personal information contained on the credit card directly through wallets.
Over what distance can this personal information be stolen?
Researchers have shown this is possible at a distance of 30 feet.
You are claiming that personal credit card information can now be remotely stolen without ever even taking your wallet or purse out—and that this can happen up to 30 feet away?
This exact situation was recently verified to our company by federal law professionals specializing in this specific area of consumer fraud.
Are all credit cards susceptible to remote skimming?
No, this is a problem specific to contactless credit cards - the so called smart credit cards - which have an embedded microchip. They are sometimes recognizable as VISA Contactless, Quick VSDC, VISA Wave, PayWave, PayPass MChip by Mastercard—also referred to as "Tap N Go", American Express with ExpressPay, Zip by Discover, AMEX Clear, Blue Card and Blue Sky, and Chase Blink. Unfortunately, in many cases the cards are not clearly identified as being RFID enabled. Debit cards from Citizens Bank, HSBC, Key Bank and Charter One are also RFID enabled. With many credit and debit cards, it is simply impossible to know if the cards contain the microchip.
How many of these smart credit cards are out there?
Hundreds of millions are now in circulation.
How durable are your RFID-Blocking sleeves?
The sleeves are made of a 3-layer material: paper/metal coating/paper; and so under normal use, we would expect the outside paper would last to up to five years under normal use or beyond. The protection itself never expires, there is nothing that is emitted from the sleeves; the metal protects against the skimming theft. These sleeves are a highly economical way to provide a common sense solution against ID theft.
I've heard that now even passports have a microchip embedded in them? True or false?
True. We make RFID-Blocking passport sleeves too for just this reason.
In addition to contactless credit card protection, will these metal lined sleeves also protect the new driver’s licenses, keyless building cards, and passport cards?
Yes, as long as the units are being read within the standard 13.56 megahertz range.
Does WalletGuard protect against all kinds of identity theft?
If it did, we'd be on a beach in South America. No. Identity theft can occur in dozens of ways. However, WalletGuard is effective at preventing one of the methods of identity theft, by blocking unauthorized access to credit card RFID chips and the data they contain.