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Card helps protect personal information

06:27 PM CDT on Friday, May 9, 2008

By OLGA CAMPOS
KVUE News

Video
Card helps protect personal information
05/09/2008
Local/State Videos
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Identity theft can strike at anytime and most consumers wouldn't even know they've been targeted.

That's because thieves can easily access personal info that's encrypted into most credit cards via microchips.

Now there's a simple device that protects your identity while maintaining the convenience of touchless technology.

Have you ever wondered what's in an access card that makes a security gate roll open, or what's in a credit card that allows you to wave and pay? It's the RFID -- radio frequency identification.

Mini-microchips embedded in the cards broadcast personal info which is then processed by authorized card readers. But the convenience provided to consumers also makes it convenient for identity thieves.

"It takes very minimal equipment and it's very simple for hackers or skimmers to pick up this information without you even knowing it,” said Leon Counts, who represents the Armadillo Dollar -- a specially laminated card that blocks the RF signals.

Those signals are found in credit cards, employee badges and access cards.

The Armadillo Dollar prevents personal info from being electronically snagged.

"It's the material that it's made out of. It's made to block all frequencies of RF transmission. So it totally protects you from information being scammed or skimmed off of your credit cards or ID badges,” said Counts.

Sold online for $25, Counts says the Armadillo Dollar is the best way to protect yourself against identity theft.

"It's almost impossible, virtually impossible to prosecute these crimes. It's very impossible to prosecute these people skimming these ID's,” he said.

It's estimated 150 million RF enabled credit cards will be issued by banks this year.

Also, the technology is being used by some states in driver’s licenses and will soon be used in U.S. issued passports.