The theft of Credit/Debit Cards, or the personal details held on them, is a huge business to the criminals of this world. If your card is stolen then you should notify your card provider immediately in order to reduce the losses. To avoid this type of crime happening to you please take note of the following advice.
Keep Your Cards Safe
- Always know where your cards are, whether at home or out shopping.
- Make sure that you always have sight of your cards when using them. Don't let vendors take them 'round the back' to register them.
- Treat your cards as carefully as you would cash.
Keep All Your Detail Safe Too
Some card details will appear on your receipts; criminals can make use of this information, so keep the receipts secure or dispose of them carefully. Make sure that the details on the receipts are illegible when you dispose of them by striking through all the personal detail, tearing them into small pieces, or best of all, shredding them.
Details will also appear on your monthly statements. If you keep the statements, then ensure that details such as card numbers, name, address etc. are all cut out or struck through with a heavy marker pen.
If you dispose of your card receipts or statements in the waste bin, rip them up thoroughly or shred them before placing them in the waste bin.
PINs (Personal Identification Numbers)
PIN security is becoming more important with the introduction of Chip & PIN cards.
- You should never reveal your PIN number to anyone else at all, even to your own bank staff. Note that you should never be asked for these details.
- Never write down your PIN; always memorise it. If you feel that you have to write it down then never keep it in the same place as your cards(s).
- If you have a number of different cards then try, as much as possible, to have separate PINs for each card.
- If you suspect that your PIN has become known to someone else then change it immediately at the nearest bank or cash machine; at the same time you should also notify your card provider, just as you would with a lost or stolen card.
Using Cash Machines
- If there are suspicious people hanging around the cash machine then wait till they have gone or find another machine.
- When using your card at a cash machine do not let anyone else observe you entering your PIN details. Criminals sometimes mount minuscule cameras above cash machines to record PIN details; so try and keep your free hand above the keypad, as a cover, whilst entering your details.
Following all of the above advice should help to keep your cards secure and avoid any distress.
What if you are a victim of card fraud?
- Report lost or stolen cards or suspected fraud to your card issuer immediately. The 24 hour emergency number will be on your statement.
Page last updated/reviewed 1st February 2010 |
