An apparatus for preventing a relay attack that includes a microcontroller, a receiver, and a transmitter. The receiver is configured to receive a challenge message from a verifier. The challenge message has a challenge message frequency at a first challenge message frequency during a first time slot. The transmitter is configured to transmit a response message to the verifier. The response message has a response message frequency at a first response message frequency during the first time slot. The first response message frequency is different than the first challenge message frequency. The challenge message frequency is at a second challenge message frequency and the response message frequency is at a second response message frequency during a second time slit. The second challenge message frequency is different than the second response message frequency.