When it comes to securing our online bank accounts, security experts tell us to use strong password, not recycle old passcodes, and to add multi-factor authentication to our accounts. But having good physical security is just as important as practicing good online security hygiene. With many debit cards and credit cards shipping with NFC, there is a real risk that valuable financial information can be skimmed—even if the skimming is not done with malicious intent.

In April 2023, a San Francisco ABC News affiliate reported that a local Safeway grocery store had inadvertently charged a customers card while it was still in her purse. The credit card charge was facilitated by an overly sensitive tap-to-pay payment terminal at the checkout stand that had detected the NFC-enabled American Express card in the customer’s purse.

To better understand what had happened in the hope of preventing a repeat incident, the affected Safeway patron had reached out to the grocer. But instead of receiving a sympathetic apology, Safeway essentially blamed the customer, informing her that she should have protected her credit cards.
So how do you protect your credit and debit cards from malicious skimmers and money-hungry merchants? There are several security solutions you can take to better protect your physical cards.

Inexpensive credit card sleeves are a cheap solution

Card sleeves with RFID-blocking tech to protect credit cards.

Inexpensive credit card sleeves are slim and a great solution for those who want to protect information on one or two cards. These paper-like sleeves are lined with RFID-blocking materials like fiberglass, foil, or a combination of the two, making it virtually impossible for skimming machines, NFC payment terminals, and card readers to penetrate the sleeve and read the information on your card.
The United States Department of State is a big consumer of card sleeves, shipping every new passport card in a protective envelope that shields the RFID chips from transmitting identifiable information about its citizens. The sleeves are inexpensive, making them easy to adopt, and though they are disposable, they are surprisingly durable for a paper-like product.
I tested a commercial sleeve made by Samsonite—there are sleeves made by various other brands and no-name Chinese brands available online—with an NFC-enabled American Express charge card at three different retailers with tap-to-pay terminals: Target, Safeway, and an Asian grocery store chain in Northern California. The good news is that the sleeves blocked RFID communications between my credit card and the terminal.

The biggest downside with this solution is that there is friction when it comes to payment. It was clumsy to try to remove the sleeve from my leather bifold wallet and then remove my card from the sleeve to swipe, dip, or tap the card for payment. Additionally, the corners and edges of the sleeve wear over time. I find this solution works best on infrequently used cards that contain personal information, like IDs, driver's licenses, and passport cards.

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