Palos Park Police Commissioner Dan Polk has studied scams to warn residents about over the years, but this new one has him worried.
It’s called ghost tapping and victims can have their credit card information stolen in crowded places, such as sporting events or concerts.
“This one is keeping me up at night,” Polk said at the May 11 village council meeting.
He said that scammers use a camera device which reads credit cards without the victim even pulling the card out of a wallet or purse.
“The scammer can then use your card just like you can use your card,” Polk said. “They might make $1 or $2 charges to make sure it works.
“And then you find there is a, I don’t know, 747 charged to your account.”
Polk offered some advice to people for protection.
He suggests that people turn on their transaction alert so that every charge alerts them immediately when a charge happens.
He also said not to put the credit card in the spot closest to the outside of the wallet. Put it behind all of the other cards in the wallet, he said.
Polk advised people to purchase an RFID blocking wallet if people know they are going to be in crowded areas.
“Watch out for charges,” he said. “It’s often that these cameras test your account to see if it’s accurate. Even if there is a small charge to your bank that you sort of blow off, make sure you reach out to the bank.”
Promoting the prom
Palos Park Mayor Nicole Milovich-Walters announced the creation of a Recreation Foundation made of citizens who will help the village try to obtain funds for various projects in the village.
To introduce the new group, there will be a Footloose ‘80s Prom dance event at 7:30 p.m. May 29 at the Palos Park Recreation Center, 8901 W. 123rd Street. Tickets are $25.
Milovich-Walters is hoping the village can raise money for projects including a park in the area near the Plush Horse ice cream shop, 12301 86th Ave.
“I’m very, very excited,” she said. “I found five very diverse, experienced residents of the village to sit on this board.
“We are going to use that entity to apply for grants that we can’t (apply for) as a village and hopefully bring in some more funds to continue creating what we love here in the village – outdoor recreation.”