Holiday heists warning: Scammers use Wi-Fi jammers, other devices to steal your packages, cars and credit cards, police say

NORTH CAROLINA (WTVD) — A warning about scammers using technology to steal your holiday packages and even get access to your credit cards while shopping. Law enforcement says this technology is being used more by thieves.

‘Tis the season for porch pirates, and while homeowners’ security and ring cameras are catching some thieves in the act, law enforcement has issued a warning that some thieves have found a way to disable the cameras using Wi-Fi jammers.

Cybersecurity expert Craig Petronella with Petronella Technology Group says, “What these people do is they get a device, they can build them or find them online, and then they get in close proximity to your camera, and they push a button on it, and it floods the wireless network with packets in it and basically shuts the camera off. Shutting the camera off.”

This means no video proof of the theft. However, Petronella says there are ways consumers can stop a Wi-Fi jammer.

“Use a wired camera if possible, or there are different brands that use later technology like WPA3, for example, which is the latest in wireless. Wireless is never going to be as good as a wired, hard-wired connection.”

Protecting Your Car

Besides Wi-Fi jamming, Petronella says thieves are also after your key fob this holiday season.

“They do a similar attack, what’s called a repeater attack, to try to bounce the signal off of your key fob, and then that’s how they break into your car,” he said.

To prevent that kind of attack, you can put your key fob into what’s known as a Faraday bag, which is a shielded pouch, lined with metal that blocks electromagnetic signals from entering or leaving.

Protecting Credit Cards

As you are holiday shopping, Petronella warns that your credit card never has to leave your wallet, and thieves can still get access and make charges through radio frequency identification technology, also known as RFID.

“So if somebody is like in line and they’re malicious and you’re ready to check out and they’re like two or three, you know, people distance from you, maybe, you know, five, ten, fifteen feet maximum from you, they can clone your card as soon as you take it out,” Petronella adds.

The good news, you can protect yourself against this scam by using an RFID blocking wallet, which stops the signal if thieves are trying to clone your credit cards.

You can never let your guard down this holiday season. When it comes to preventing your packages from getting stolen, you should track your packages. If you know you are not going to be home, consider alternative delivery, like to your work, or even another drop-off solution, such as an Amazon locker.

Use an RFID blocking wallet, which stops the signal if thieves are trying to clone your credit cards.

Also, depending on what garage door technology you have, Amazon also offers garage delivery, where they place the packages in your garage by providing access to a code that opens the door.

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