A method of detecting an RFID tag includes transmitting a bait RFID read signal at a bait power level and a simulated response signal at a simulated-response power level. A selected reader frequency is monitored for a selected detection time. A skimmer is determined to be present if a skimmer RFID read signal is detected during that time. If a skimmer is not determined to be present, multiple read signals are transmitted sequentially, each signal at a respective read power level. At least one of the read power levels is lower than the bait power level, at least one of the read power levels is lower than the simulated-response power level, and at least two of the read power levels are different from each other. A selected response frequency for a tag is monitored for a response from an RFID tag.