Before you ‘tap to pay,’ here’s the new scam you need to know about
< 1 min read
January 20, 2026 – Published on KOAA-TV Colorado Springs
The convenience of “tap-to-pay” comes with a new risk.
A new consumer alert details a growing fraud concern where criminals tamper with payment terminals to steal your information, often starting with tiny charges you won’t even notice.
Paul Keener, cybersecurity expert at GuidePoint Security, recently joined the KOAA team to discuss this scam, also known as “ghost tapping.”
Keener noted that tap to pay fraud can happen anywhere a payment reader has been compromised, and that setting up bank alerts, reviewing transactions frequently, and using credit cards when possible (since they offer stronger consumer protections) are some easy ways to help protect yourself.