In a method for authenticating a current user of a near field communication (NFC) device, a profile for an authorized user of the NFC device is established based on data received from one or more sensors of the NFC device over a first period of time. Responsive to a request for a payment transaction, a profile for the current user of the NFC device is established based on data received from the one or more sensors over a second period of time after the first period of time. The profile for the current user is compared with the profile for the authorized user. A determination is made as to whether one or more values in the profile for the current user are within a range of one or more values in the profile for the authorized user at a confidence level.