Good Samaritan Scammed by Couple Who Scanned Credit Cards

Hugs a DeKalb County woman received from a couple she gave cash to at a gas station turned out to cost her nearly $3,000.

Tymikia Jackson of Lawrenceville told WXIA TV she was pumping gas when a woman asked if she could have some money to put gas in her vehicle. Jackson obliged, glad to lend a hand to people who seemed to be down on their luck.

"So I gave her my last $20 in my pocket," Jackson said. "She said, 'Thank you so much, I really appreciate it, can I please have a hug?'"

A man with the woman got out of the car, thanked Jackson and also asked for a hug, she said. "But the hug was different."

She told the couple to pay her good deed forward. But instead they rang up nearly $3,000 on her debit and credit cards.

Jackson was the victim of high-tech thieves who scan information from a wallet or purse simply by being close to you. Jackson had her credit cards in a cell phone case that was in her front pocket. Her information was scanned when she was hugged.

You can protect yourself from radio frequency identification scanners by purchasing anti-RFID wallets or sleeves they can't penetrate.