Your credit card information is always at risk for theft. Take steps to keep it safe and don’t be fooled by scammers who try to trick you.
1. Keep your credit cards safe.
Keep your credit cards in a purse or wallet close to your body where it can’t easily be snatched away. Ladies, make sure your purse is zipped. If you’re shopping in a high traffic area, carry a smaller purse. For both men and women, carry only the one or two credit and debit cards you’ll be using that day. Leave all your other credit cards at home.
Thieves can take pictures of your credit card with a camera or cell phone, so don’t leave your credit card exposed any longer than necessary.
After you make a purchase put your credit card away immediately. Confirm you have your credit card back in your possession before you leave the store or restaurant.
2. Shred anything with your credit card number on it.
Rather than toss your credit card billing statement directly into the trash, shred them to keep dumpster divers from getting their hands on your credit card number. The same thing applies to old credit cards that have expired or been cancelled. You might even put the shredded pieces in different trash bags to thwart clever thieves who can put shredded pages back together.
3. Don’t sign blank credit card receipts.
To avoid credit card fraud, always verify the amount on your credit card receipt before signing it. If you get a credit card receipt that has blank spaces in it, write $0 in those spaces or draw through them before putting your signature on the card. Otherwise, the cashier could write in an amount and send the purchase to your credit card issuer.
4. Avoid giving out your credit card information.
Only give out your credit card number or other sensitive information on calls you initiate to customer service using the number on the back of your credit card. Don’t return calls to a phone number left on your answering machine and don’t give your credit card number to anyone who calls you requesting the number. Credit card thieves have been known to pose as credit card issuers and other businesses to trick you into giving out your credit card number.
5. Be safe with your credit card online.
Don’t click on email links from anyone pretending to be your bank, credit card Company, or other business who uses your personal information, even if the email looks legitimate. These links are often phishing scams and the scammers want to trick you into entering your login information on their fake website.
Make sure you’re cautious when you’re using your credit cards online. Only enter your credit card number on secure websites that you can be 100% sure are legitimate. To be sure a website is secure, look for a lock in the lower right corner of your Internet browser.
6. Report lost or stolen credit cards immediately.
The sooner you report a missing credit card the less likely it is that you’ll have to pay for any fraudulent charges made on your credit card. Write down your credit card companies’ customer service number now so you’ll have it if your credit card is ever missing.
7. Review your billing statements each month.
Unauthorised changes on your credit card are the first indicator of credit card fraud. If you notice a charge you didn’t make, no matter how small, report the charge to your credit card issuer immediately. Your credit card issuer will tell you whether you should close your account to avoid credit card fraud.
