A method and apparatus for selectively securing records in a Near Field Communication Data Exchange Format (NDEF) message in a Near Field Communication (NFC) device are provided. The method includes generating a place marker signature record by setting a URI_present field to ‘0’ and setting a signature_type field to a predefined value, wherein a combination of the URI_present field set to ‘0’ and the signature_type field set to the predefined value indicates that a signature Record Type Definition (RTD) is a place marker signature record; and placing the place marker signature record in the NDEF message, wherein a set of records following the place marker signature record are secured.