SPRINGFIELD TWP., Pa. -With so many beginning their holiday shopping, this story may have you thinking twice about how you use your credit cards and smartphones. An observant FOX 29 viewer tipped us off to what cops say could be a case of high tech identity theft.
A FOX 29 viewer sent us a picture taken in the parking lot of the Springfield Mall. It shows a man sitting in a white SUV, behind him, not one, but 8 different smartphones. All turned on, hanging all over the car. The question is why?
"Little shady out in the open like that," said shopper Joe Ryan.
He's not the only one who thinks so. FOX 29's Chris O'Connell showed the picture to two forensic investigators. Neither can confirm exactly what's going on, but say there's a chance it's electronic hacking, which is using a cell phone to steal your information like bank account and credit card numbers. These days thieves can use what's called "near field communication" or simple bluetooth devices to skim vital information from your smartphone or wireless embedded credit cards.
"I actually just recently had my credit card compromised," said Tracy DiBonaventura.
DiBonaventura knows the threat all too well. She just had her credit card information stolen twice and more than $10,000 in charges were racked up.
It seems banks and phone companies are playing a technological game of cat and mouse with hackers. The prize is your personal information.
The viewer who sent us the picture didn't want to be identified, but says the SUV sped off before mall security arrived. She then reported the incident to Springfield Township police to investigate.
In the meantime, as holiday shopping begins, some will be keeping their credit cards close to the vest. Just in the last two months, seven cases of identity theft were reported to Springfield Township police. Experts say especially during the holiday season, you should be checking your bank statements at least twice a month.
A FOX 29 viewer sent us a picture taken in the parking lot of the Springfield Mall. It shows a man sitting in a white SUV, behind him, not one, but 8 different smartphones. All turned on, hanging all over the car. The question is why?
"Little shady out in the open like that," said shopper Joe Ryan.
He's not the only one who thinks so. FOX 29's Chris O'Connell showed the picture to two forensic investigators. Neither can confirm exactly what's going on, but say there's a chance it's electronic hacking, which is using a cell phone to steal your information like bank account and credit card numbers. These days thieves can use what's called "near field communication" or simple bluetooth devices to skim vital information from your smartphone or wireless embedded credit cards.
"I actually just recently had my credit card compromised," said Tracy DiBonaventura.
DiBonaventura knows the threat all too well. She just had her credit card information stolen twice and more than $10,000 in charges were racked up.
It seems banks and phone companies are playing a technological game of cat and mouse with hackers. The prize is your personal information.
The viewer who sent us the picture didn't want to be identified, but says the SUV sped off before mall security arrived. She then reported the incident to Springfield Township police to investigate.
In the meantime, as holiday shopping begins, some will be keeping their credit cards close to the vest. Just in the last two months, seven cases of identity theft were reported to Springfield Township police. Experts say especially during the holiday season, you should be checking your bank statements at least twice a month.
