Drifter
If you lived in the US for a while, you get these stories run by newschannels especially in the midwest. All it does is cretae a buzz. The data that he gleaned from the proximity enabled cards are data that any sales assistant manning a cash register can see as they do card transaction and can see the cards as well the data in the cash register roll. In fact after the store closes, they can quietly collect all the data which can run into the hundreds instead of building such a device and getting close to people.
It is no different to asking people to keep their cars in the garage to avoid people copying their number plates and you ending up with the speeding ticket.
Its also explains why midwest are known for their crazies who build nuclear shelters, stockpile food, have an arms cache , use cash, don't use cellphone or wifi. And they believe in god big time.