A thin card reader (TCR) designed to reduce card-not-present fraud, in credit card transactions, and other applications where security verification is needed in remote locations. The TCR is powered by external RF power, or through a battery. Further, the TCR uses energy from an energy harvester, which converts the mechanism energy used to insert the credit card into the TCR. Energy harvesting allows the TCR to be a self-powered device, alleviating the need to charge the TCR or connect a cable thereto. TCR shifts the burden of the electronics from the card to the TCR, reducing the cost of credit cards with a biometric sensor. One TCR can be used per consumer (with many cards), reducing costs and resulting in substantial savings. The TCR also allows remote enrollment of biometrically enabled credit cards where the new card can be entered into a TCR when placed in a self-enrollment mode.