A total of 5,000 card defenders have been purchased by Essex Police in an attempt to reduce contactless card fraud across the district.

These small wallets are simple but effective devices that keep contactless cards secure from thieves and fraudsters.

You place your card inside the card defender and Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) blocking material shields any sensitive information.

Essex Chambers of Commerce, the Police, Fire and Crime Commissioner for Essex are working together to help businesses and residents tackle the crime.

Denise Rossiter, chief executive of Essex Chambers of Commerce and chair of the Essex Business Crime Strategy Board, said: “One of the aims of the board is to work together to come up with practical solutions to help beat business crime.

“These card defenders are a great way to help prevent RFID skimming which is a form of digital theft.

“We are giving these to members of our Business Crime Strategy Board so they can hand them to their employees to help prevent them from becoming a victim.”

To find out more about the work of the Essex Business Crime Strategic Board visit

www.essexchambers.co.uk/essex_business_crime_strategic_board.htm

For Crime Prevention Advice from Essex Police go to

www.essex.police.uk/advice/