What Is RFID Blocking? Do You Need It?

So what is RFID blocking anyway? It seems you can’t search for any wallet these days without seeing it advertised as a “premium” feature.

But what is RFID, why would you want to block it, and do RFID wallets actually work? We’ve got you covered: we’ll explain what it is, what the concerns are, and what (if anything) you should do about it.

What Is RFID Anyway?

Radio-Frequency Identification, more commonly known as RFID, is a technology that’s been around since the 1960s, even if you don’t know much about it. It lets a reader talk wirelessly to a tag. If your card lets you tap to pay, it uses a short-range form of RFID, and it’ll usually carry the contactless symbol, which looks like a wi-fi icon on its side. (Not every contactless card shows the symbol. If you’re not sure about yours, call the number on the back.)

The tag can be on just about anything: books, grocery items, pets, livestock, toll passes, automatic gates, passports. The reader picks up the data over radio waves (hence the shape of that icon).

These tags can be “active” (they have their own power) or “passive” (they only respond when a reader sends a signal). Contactless payment cards are passive, since there’s no battery in them.

RFID and Credit Cards

If you’ve ever tapped your card against the terminal instead of swiping or inserting it, you’ve used RFID. Contactless cards have been around in the US since the mid-2000s, and the rollout sped up during COVID, when nobody wanted to touch a shared keypad. Stores love it because it gets customers in and out faster, and customers love it because it’s convenient.

The gold chip is for dipping. The tap works through an antenna hidden inside the card.

Unfortunately, some of the advantages are also what make people wary of it. The card doesn’t have to be in sight of the reader, so the worry goes like this: a thief with the right gadget walks past you and reads your card straight through your pocket. This has been covered over and over in the press, often with some pretty dramatic videos.

What is RFID Blocking?

So now you see wallets, purses, bags and even clothing offering RFID protection that “shields” your cards. They use a layer of conductive material (metal mesh, foil or a metal shell) that gets between your card and the reader, a bit like a mini Faraday cage.

Think of it as creating a dead zone. You know how your phone loses signal in a basement room? An RFID-blocking wallet works in a similar way, except the signal it cuts off is the one between your card and a reader.

Do RFID Wallets Work?

Yes, mostly. A well-made shielded wallet can stop a contactless card inside it from talking to a reader. NIST’s RFID security guidance lists metal screens and films as a real way to shield tags.

But there are some catches:

• The shielding has to surround the card. Gaps, open edges and quick-access pockets on the outside of a wallet may not be protected. Check which pockets the maker says are shielded, and keep the card fully inside.
• Not every card system is the same. Shielding designed for payment cards may not block every access badge or transit card.
• It blocks the taps you want, too. Expect to take a protected card out before you pay.

Want to check your own? Next time you’re buying something anyway, try the card inside the protected pocket first, then outside. If it only works outside, the shielding is doing its job for that card and that reader.

Do You Need RFID Blocking?

Taking all of this into account: is having your cards (or your whole wallet) “skimmed” a real and present danger, or are those videos mostly scare tactics?

There’s very little reliable evidence that RFID skimming is a big problem. Some argue it goes unreported because victims never realize what happened. But it’s hard to believe the card companies wouldn’t notice if this kind of fraud were happening at any scale, especially since they’re generally the ones on the hook for fraudulent charges.

And the card companies are well aware of the risk. A contactless card doesn’t just send your details when you tap it. It creates a one-time code for that specific transaction, so a scammer who reads your card can’t simply generate the next one. Visa also points out that your PIN and the three-digit security code on the back can’t be read that way. Frankly, we think you’re much more at risk of someone stealing the card itself and buying something with a tap!

What This Means For You

If you’re traveling and it gives you peace of mind, RFID blocking is a reasonable extra, and a lot of travel wallets include it anyway. Just remember that ATM skimmers and plain old pickpockets are a far bigger risk than an RFID scanner.

Is RFID Blocking REALLY Worth It?

So, is RFID blocking worth it? The real answer is “probably not”, at least not as a reason to buy a wallet. Given how rare actual skimming thefts seem to be, and how outsized some of the protection claims are, we wouldn’t buy a wallet just because it has RFID blocking.

Now, we’re not saying buying a wallet with RFID protection is a bad thing… it’s not. Plenty of good wallets include it as standard. All we’re saying is: don’t go out of your way (or spend an exorbitant amount) to get it.

If you’re still worried, and feeling a bit “crafty”, you’ve probably seen the aluminum foil trick, or duct-tape wallets lined with foil, or cards carried in a metal mint tin. Metal really does block the signal, but gaps and wear make the homemade versions hit and miss. And you will get funny looks with the duct tape. You can also ask your bank whether it offers a card without contactless.

The sad truth is that there are much easier, low-tech ways for thieves to get your information, like phone scams, ATM skimmers and fake websites, and an RFID wallet won’t help with any of those. If you really want to protect yourself, turn on transaction alerts, check your statements, and use good passwords. That’ll do far more than any wallet lining.