Misleading adverts in CMC Magazine
Page 49 of the January 2018 edition of the Club Magazine contains a full page advert for Skim Guard, costing from £19.95 upwards, a device designed to protect people from 'RFID Card Skimming'. The article is full of scary sounding 'facts' which are actually completely baseless!
The website Techradar features an article on this subject in which they spoke to the UK Cards Association who confirmed that: 'there have been no reported incidents of this crime in the country.'
Contactless cards are designed to only communicate their information over a range of approx 4 centimetres, so the idea of someone being any further away and getting the data is impossible, according to Giles Mason, Media Relations Manager for the UK Cards Association.
A 'Which' report from 2015 confirmed that they had skimmed ten cards and carried out online transactions with them, but admitted the cards had physically been in touch with the reader and the only information they had managed to gain in the majority of cases was the same information which was visible on the front of the card, ie name, number and expiry date.
Which? said that although the risks are low, it is possible, although someone would probably have to be very close to you to 'lift' your card details without you knowing.
This kind of advertising does its best to scare people with false and misleading information and I believe that, before accepting this type of advertising, the Club should investigate the claims to see if they are, in fact, baseless.
Comments
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The magazine like any other magazine clearly states their case on accepting and publishing advertisements on the inside cover of the first page.
All advertising clearly bumps up their product and as long as they are not in breach of the Trade Descriptions Act then why should the Club stop an advertisement. 'Which' has stated it can happen, so the claims by the advertiser can be worded accordingly to stay within the rules.
The onus must clearly be on the consumer to do their own homework before accepting these 'facts' as true or false, in fact just like you have done by making up your mind after investigating it.
Engine additives, beauty treatments, anti-ageing creams, water tight caravans, January sales, all are complete b*******, its the way of the world and we just need to sift through it.
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My favourite urban CMC myths would include:
- Electricity on Club sites is free
- the toilets are self-cleaning
- the Club is for Touring
etc.......
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May also be a myth but I have been told having two cards in your wallet will confuse any skimming device
Andy
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One has to be a joker.
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For the worried, tin foil is as cheap as chips!
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I have doubts about the '4 centimetres' I once got out a card at the checkout to put in the machine, it then 'read' another card in my purse which although nearer then the one I intended to use was certainly more than 4cm away. (Hard to picture I know but it did happen)
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Don't believe everything you read , take everything with a very large pinch of salt ......... issues aren't an issue until you make them one .😉
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