Tap-to-pay technology has become increasingly convenient for making purchases, but some scammers are taking advantage of it by “ghost tapping” – a hidden way to scam victims out of money.
When you use tap-to-pay, scammers might take your phone’s payment feature without you knowing and make unauthorized transactions. However, this is highly unusual and unlikely to happen without your knowledge.
The issue arises when scammers claim to be collecting donations or charity funds, but instead, they’re using tap-to-pay technology to steal money from unsuspecting victims. For example, a scammer in Illinois claimed to be raising money for funeral expenses, but the victim later discovered multiple charges on their credit card account totaling thousands of dollars.
To protect yourself, ask vendors if you can see the screen when making a payment. This simple step can prevent “ghost tapping” and help you avoid falling victim to scams. You can also turn on credit card transaction alerts, always request receipts, and be cautious of suspicious behavior from vendors.
According to Visa’s senior vice president, Michael Jabbara, the near-field communication technology used in tap-to-pay requires a distance of only four centimeters (the length of a paper clip), making it difficult for scammers to use your phone without you noticing.
Source: https://www.huffpost.com/entry/phone-ghost-tapping-scam_l_6900da38e4b063602342e753