Tap and Pay Thefts Increasing Nationwide
By Isabella Gomez
Blue RAM Media/Gulf Coast News
March 12, 2026
BALDWIN COUNTY, Ala.
Do you know what “ghost-tapping” is?
We’ve all heard the new phrase “ghosting” meaning a person hasn’t returned your calls or responded to your emails, but this type of ghosting could cost you money, maybe even a lot of money unbeknownst to you.
Nationwide, law enforcement authorities are seeing a dramatic rise in a scam known as “ghost tapping” involving credit and debit cards.
“Ghost tapping” scams is putting people who use tap-to-pay features on alert. The concerning part of this scam is that victims may not realize they’ve been scammed until they check their credit card or bank statements.
People look for convenience these days that are quick and easy and that’s what scammers are depending on. Tap and pay is fast becoming the method that most people use when making payments at a gas pump, self-checkout store register or even when driving up to a fast-food window. Honestly, I’m one of these that have found that this payment method is quick and easy.
Tap-to-pay technology is designed to make transactions fast and convenient. But cybersecurity experts say that the same convenience can make it easier for scammers to steal money.
“The ease of use means the ease of stealing,” said Jean-Paul Bergeaux with GuidePoint Security, a cybersecurity consulting company. Bergeaux said scammers exploit the same NFC technology used in tap-to-pay systems on phones and credit cards.
“There are pieces of software and devices that are doing exactly the same thing that a point of sale does and it’s transacting on your phone or on your credit card and if you don’t have a thumbprint or a biometric on your phone, they can walk up and if you’re not paying attention in a crowded area, they get close enough and they touch your phone they can do a transaction,” Bergeaux said.
Nationwide, law enforcement say scammers will sometimes just take a few dollars which often go unnoticed and then they come back and take large amounts of cash from your cards.
Fraud analysts say claims tied to ghost tapping have surged by 150% during the past year. Experts warn that scammers often target crowded places where people may be distracted, including malls and airports.
“If you have a credit card with a chip, which all of us do, make sure that you protect that chip. Don’t leave the card out. Don’t have it in the back pocket without any protection. Where someone could walk up and tap it,” Bergeaux said.
Cybersecurity experts recommend taking a few simple steps to reduce your risk:
Turn on transaction alerts from your bank or credit card company
Keep your cards secure and avoid leaving them exposed
Use biometric security, like fingerprint or facial recognition, on your phone
Monitor your statements regularly for suspicious charges
Copyright 2026 Blue RAM Media. All rights reserved.
