It’s that time of year again – America’s birthday! Nothing says it’s the 4th of July like sizzling temperatures, BBQ’s and parades. Whether it’s watching Nathan’s Hot Dog Eating Contest or your local fireworks display, Americans love their traditions that celebrate this national holiday. But just because you are relaxing by the pool doesn’t mean that a fraudster is. With spending upwards of $8B for the holiday, they will be scouring for your credit card data. Bluefin’s PCI-validated P2PE solutions for mobile, retail, call center and kiosks encrypt credit card data 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – protecting merchants, consumers, processors, and issuers from the theft of clear-text cardholder data.
This year, the average family will spend about the same on Independence Day cookouts and picnics as last year, at an average of $71.34 per household – and almost the same on hot dogs, hamburgers and snow cones as last year, at $6.8 billion in food this year.
Even with gas prices at their lowest since 2005, consumers are sticking close to home and planning their celebrations while keeping their wallets in check. Nearly two-thirds plan to attend a cookout, while 42% will attend a fireworks show.
Regardless of how consumers will be spending their time on this long weekend, it is highly likely they will use a debit or credit card for their festivities. Today’s retailers know that the potential for credit card fraud is real, having seen the almost daily reports of retail stores falling victim to countless data breaches caused by cyber thieves stealing valuable customer card data.
Let’s face it, cyber criminals don’t care if it’s America’s most celebrated day or if it’s a random Tuesday. Any vulnerability in a retailer’s point of sale terminal is fair game to fraudsters. But today’s retailers and consumers can take the necessary steps towards protecting card data, with new security technologies like Bluefin’s PCI-validated P2PE solution which encrypts cardholder data in the point of entry device so it is not available as clear-text cardholder data in the POS where it could be exposed.
So, let the Independence Day festivities begin. Learn more about how Bluefin can protect your business and have a safe, happy 4th of July!
