ID Guardian concept tackles electronic pickpocketing

ID Guardian gets serious about theft

We all know we are supposed to shred our bank statements, protect our social security numbers, and guard our personal information like it was in a safe, but now, you may think twice before you open your wallet. Did you know your information can be stolen while it is still in your wallet? If you carry a credit, debit, or identification card holding an RFID (radio frequency identification) chip inside, you are vulnerable.

They are also found in subway, healthcare, drivers’ licenses, and bus cards. RFID is the technology that lets you wave your card or passport in front of a nearby scanner instead sliding the magnetic strip through the machine. Because of this criminals have created ways to use their own RFID readers to copy your information without ever touching your wallet. They simply walk near you and the reader will pick up the information.

How do you know if your card has a RFID chip inside? There is usually a logo on the card that looks like this: and can be found on the front or back of the card. Some cards that have a chip do not have this logo though; if there is any doubt, contact your card provider. All US passports issued since October 2006, have a RFID chip in place.

New product blocks RFID

ID Guardian has created a line of RFID blocking wallets, phone cases, purses, handbags, iPad cases and more. Currently seeking funding on Indiegogo, ID Guardian’s co-founder, Matt Bolock states: “After personally falling victim to electronic pick pocketing, I realized the serious and growing threat it poses to consumers every single day. ID Guardian provides a convenient way to protect your identification and financial information with premium, yet affordable products.”

Bolock added, “We are very excited about our introductory line of phone case wallets and look forward to expanding our identity protection technology to additional products.”

The smartphone wallet is particularly attractive: one side of the wallet holds two credit cards and your ID, while the other harbors a magnet to safely hold your phone in place, allowing you to easily insert and remove you phone, while still holding it securely.

At the conclusion of their crowdfunding campaign, they hope to expand manufacturing efforts to make more high-quality, affordable, cases to safe guard your information. Currently, phone cases are only available for Samsung Galaxy and iPhone 5 and 5s; hopefully they will expand at the end of their campaign.