Disabling Contactless Payment on Debit Cards

Contactless payment is a relatively new feature in debit cards that allows you to make payments for small purchases quickly and wirelessly over a short distance without having to enter your pin.

When my old debit card expired and a new one was sent, it came with this new feature. I wanted a way to disable it since each time I was scanning my RFID access card in my wallet, the detectors at work were picking up the debit card too. They'd beep twice and sometimes get confused. Not only this, but while my bank promises it's secure, I'd rather not have a feature I don't intend to use on the off-chance that it's not.

Existing articles I found when looking for a way to disable it guess at the location or infer it by cutting apart other contactless bank cards. Since I have access to a micro-CT scanner at the University of Huddersfield Centre for Precision Technologies, I thought I'd put my card in the machine, take a 2d xray still and allow myself to find the quickest and easiest way to disable it.

The above image is a a screen grab from the Xray preview of a Nikon micro-CT scanner. The low resolution is due to it being a live view image. When in operation the micro-CT scanner is capable of a resolution of several microns.

Step 1: How Contactless Payment Works

Contactless payment works using RFID technology. A chip inside the card is powered when the card comes into close proximity to an RFID card reader. The signal emitted from the reader powers the chip though use of the embedded antenna. If this antenna is cut there will be no power to the chip and so when the card is held close to a reader the debit card won't reply.

By making cuts in the card where we know the antenna is, we can disable the wireless payment features.

Step 2: How to Disable It on Your Card

Make a cut 5 mm deep anywhere around the debit card or snip off a corner. This will break the antenna path and stop power to the chip when held near a reader.

That's it. Easy!

Comments

[hermankikkert]

On the above scans, make an incision with a sharp knife just at the right side of the chip. Don't cut through the card but make a sort of deep scratch. See a lot of youtube videos on how to do this. You can use this app to see if your incision was sufficient or not: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.maxsoft.creditcardreader

Reason for me to do this is having a rebellious teenager in the home who "borrows" my card once in a while...

[DaleD16]

Honestly what is the point in disabling it? In the unlikely event that you're scammed the bank will refund the loss anyway. I think what people should be worrying about is the fact that the currency (GBP, USD EURO, all of them) is backed by nothing and is debt based. All credit is loaned into existence, savings are multiplied 10's and 100's of times over with a magic trick called fractional reserve lending (Google it I'm not making this up).

[rosea2003]

You're missing the point of the article dude... and have a disturbingly bad mentality towards what is a blatant financial security risk. The idea that disabling the chip isn't worth it because the bank will refund you regardless is downright horrifying and it shows how society has blindly accepted tap/ contactless transactions to the point where the obvious risks are downgraded and ignored.

Scamming isn't the only issue. Someone could steal your card (Debit or Credit) and would automatically be able to charge whatever they want to it without needing to find and/or remember your PIN code.

If a store only accepts tap/ contactless transactions I pull out cash, I don't swipe my card anymore because it kept reading the chip before I could. I'm actively looking for ways to disable the chip so I can stop feeling major anxiety every time I pull out my wallet.

While I agree with you that the debt-based currency system is a major issue that needs fixing, it isn't the focus of the article and shouldn't distract from how dangerous tap/ contactless transactions really are. There is a time and place for everything.

I mean you no offense when writing this, I understand where you're coming from and completely agree with what you're concerns are. But I don't find you're mentality on the article's main focus to be a healthy one and thought I should bring attention to the general issue with having it. I suggest you follow your own advice, do some Googling yourself, and take your concerns somewhere it applies.

Have a good day :)

[jfggeneralmail]

Anybody know how to disable this on an Amex metal card?

[Dr Loco]

I have a new mastercard world elite card. Was wondering if author of post Jayefuu could update scans of new cards with different antenna layouts.

[SolarSteve]

Things have changed since you took your X-ray! The loop is much smaller. One absolute no-no is cutting off a corner: card readers aren't bothered, but bank ATMs will detect it and swallow your card. It's happened to me! Safest bet is to gouge out just inboard of the chip (short side). This will cut wire(s) as required. Just be careful not to damage the chip itself by ensuring your knife doesn't slip into the metallic contact area.

[gergend]

I have an Amex card that is clear so I can see the antenna. Mine does not have the single wire big loop going around the perimeter like yours. The antenna loops are in the same place as your xray shows. I used a paper hole punch to sever the antenna, which left the card edges smooth.

[leavingcasoon]

Your article was VERY USEFUL. On July 30, 19, I paid cash at a grocer, $21.02, Trader Joes in CA. I set my purse on the counter, about a foot away from the elevated display to insert or swipe credit cards. As I got back to my car, my cell phone was flashing Alerts from Wells Fargo that 2 attempts were Blocked to use my Visa for purchases at Trader Joes. I luckily placed a Block on my Visa a few days prior, since I seldom use the card. I also just received the new replacement Visa only ten days prior. I thought my visa fell out of my purse and someone found it and began charging at the same grocery store. i got the toll free number to Wells Fargo from the Store Manager. The agent asked me to look at the back of the card, were the curved lines on the card? I noticed this new change. The Agent told me its a Tap Card new Contact less technology for convenience. The amounts attempted to be charged 2 times was the exact about of my CASH purchase. I never removed my card,nor presented it. I thought the Visa was in my car in the checkbook where I keep it with debit card. Wells fargo only said since I had my card locked, it could not charge. Do you see the horrible fraudulent theft that is and will be taking place with hundreds of thousands of card holders. ? This is very dark, dangerous technology being forced on consumers. All future replacement cards are wireless, debit, and Credit Cards. The consumer does not even know what card would be charged if having multiple cards in the wallet or purse. I am shocked at the cavalier attitude of both the grocery store and Wells Fargo, it's business as usual. Had the Block/Lock on my Visa not been on, I would have Unknowingly be charge TWO times, paying cash, and the VISA charged at the same time without my knowledge. Consumers may not look at the statements for weeks, and not even realize they paid cash, and being charged double, multiple times for purchases, they forgot, or tossed the receipt, Their would be no proof to dispute charges to Visa /MC or any other cards. Very dangerous, Not secure, I see a future class action suit against the banks and this technology . Thank you for your important post, I did exactly what you suggested, in fact cut the corner, and snipped a line at the bottom of my Visa. I will alert others how to do this. Another bad use of this technology, criminals with scanners can easiliey caputure all data from the credit card, number expiration security code, name etc. There are portable devices that can wirelssly read your data to begin charging, your Card.

[BooR3]

If you are a Wells Fargo customer just call the number on the back of your card and request a non-NFC card.

[keekee38]

hi how I use that card my first time

[leavingcasoon]

Another dangerous way to be victimized.. If the cardholder is standing near the Cashier in line, while the customer next is paying cash, its highly possible, the charge can be placed on your card, hidden deep within a purse, or wallet. The victim would not even know you paid for another customers groceries, or other purchases, if they are paying cash. The wireless grabs the card it can find, and knows not who it belongs to. There is no agreeing to any amount, or viewing the display to agree to the charge, and sign for the amount and getting a receipt. The cash receipt that is provided if you ask, will not display the Charge to another person or your own hidden credit card. Dangerous, fraud inflicted on consumers. There is nothing the consumer can do, short of turning off all your cards.

[AlexanderJ51]

I'm not sure if all cards have the same antenna design, my cards seemed different but not sure. however, I was able to look through the card using a bright flashlight in a dark room & identify the Antenna location that way.

[Zeugma-fr]

There is an other method, which is non-destructive.

You just have to add a small square (1cm x 1cm) of self-adhesive copper sticker on the back of the card.

Depending on where you put this copper, you will have 2 possibilities.

If you put it somewhere on the zone where the 3 spires are visible in your pic, you will scramble the RFID communication => no more communication.

If you put it in the big white zone, outside the 3 spires of the top, but inside the big spire, without covering it, you will change the antenna tuning, meaning the card will need to be closer (it need more power) to the reader to work.

[tchernutts]

Good idea but if the copper tape is effective how come the magnetic stripe which also crosses the wires doesn't interfere with them?

[Zeugma-fr]

adhesive copper tape : for example this :

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Direct-Products-Multi-Purp...

[tchernutts]

I can see the wires just by looking very closely at the front of the card, with no light shining through. A dark blue 'Nationwide' card. Suggests the wires may be much nearer to the front surface so a shallow cut on that side might be enough.?Easier to spot the wires in the lighter coloured writing though, then just follow the lines from there.

[WhoM4]

I cannot use the LED shine through as the card in black plastic! So I am hoping that taking Jayefuu's advice I could still make a 5mm cut on the bottom edge near the corner and that will kill the antenna? Can anyone confirm this for me please? Thanks

[WhoM4]

Hi Folks,

As my 'contactless' card is black the high intensity LED light will not shine through to show me where the antenna wires are, so as the wire will no doubt be around the outer edge of the card, could I with a large degree of certainty make the 5mm cut suggested by Jayefuu and stop it operating?

A conversation with the card provider today has made it clear that they and mastercard will not be offering a choice of non contacless or contactless cards in the near future.

While with Visa and your respective bank you do have this option and so can remain just chip and pin.

[marcwilson]

I like the idea of a button on the card. Until then, I just keep mine in an aluminium wallet. :)

[KathleenR21]

I kept mine in an aluminum wallet, but it got hacked when I had to take it out of the wallet to make a purchase. I don't think there was anyone behind me in line but I had to hand it to the cashier and she had it behind the register where I couldn't see. Later that afternoon the fraud charges started coming in.