After a pleasant day soaking up all that New York City has to offer – a museum, a stroll in the park, a savory dinner – I returned home to an ominous message from my credit card company. My credit card was used to make purchases in London, Amsterdam and Kuala Lumpur.

No, I am not in Kuala Lumpur, I assured the credit card rep on the phone, and neither is my credit card – it’s in my wallet, safe and sound.

As I soon discovered, just because your credit card is in your wallet, doesn’t mean you’re safe from fraud. Thanks to a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) chip embedded in some credit and debit cards, electronic pickpockets can steal the information using a cleverly hidden credit card reader, without ever touching the card. Millions of credit cards are already equipped with RFID chips, and this technology is expected to completely replace magnetic strips in the next two to three years.

The best way to protect your personal information from electronic pickpockets is to use RFID-blocking products. Scarborough & Tweed offers RFID-blocking wallets, sleeves and passport holders in a variety of styles and colors. They make a great gift or giveaway because they are not only stylish, but also serve an important purpose.

The only time I want my credit card information taking a trip to Kuala Lumpur is when I join it.