Although credit cards are convenient, To protect yourself, take precautions such as using your credit card online only at secure websites.
Keeping your card with you at all times and checking your statements each month to make sure no fraudulent charges have been made in your name.
Here are tips to help you ensure your credit card stays safe and secure.
1) Keep Your Credit Card in a Safe Place
To avoid fraud, it’s important that you keep your credit card in a safe place.
You should avoid carrying it in your purse or wallet, as this is the easiest way for someone to steal your information.
If you do carry your card around with you, always make sure that no one can see the numbers on the front of the card.
You should also remove your card from the machine after it has been scanned so that someone else doesn’t have access to the same information.
When using an ATM machine, always shield your hand when entering in your PIN number so nobody can see what you are doing.
2) Check Your Credit Card Statements Regularly
Checking your credit card statements regularly is a simple way to make sure that there are no fraudulent charges on your account.
You can do this by either logging into your account online or receiving paper copies in the mail.
If you notice any new charges that seem unfamiliar, call up your credit card company immediately.
They will be able to help you remove the charge from your bill or offer suggestions for how you might have been hacked.
Remember That Nothing Is 100% Safe. As much as we would all love to think of our credit cards as perfect security blankets, it’s important to remember that nothing is ever 100% safe from being hacked.
It’s always a good idea to use two-factor authentication whenever possible and avoid clicking suspicious links or downloading malicious attachments.
Keep An Eye Out For Suspicious Activity: As soon as you notice anything strange with your account, contact your bank immediately.
3) Create a Strong Password for Your Credit Card
Use a combination of letters, numbers, and symbols in your password. You should also make sure it is difficult for others to guess by picking a word that is not too common or obvious like password or qwerty.
For best results, use at least 8 characters in your password. If you have trouble remembering the password, write it down on paper and store it somewhere safe.
Whenever you are prompted to enter your credit card information online, always type in the correct code first before pressing Enter.
When using gas pumps with an attendant present, never give them your card until they ask for it.
Always cover the keypad when typing in any PIN number and keep an eye on the card reader to ensure no one else is watching.
Be aware of people around you when entering into sensitive data such as credit card information or passwords.
4) Never Give Out Your Credit Card Information
Giving out your credit card information is always a risky move, but it’s especially risky when you’re on the internet.
There are many ways that your information can be compromised while browsing, so here are some ways to avoid being an easy target:
– Never give out your credit card information. It’s not worth it!
– Set up a fraud alert on your account as soon as possible.
It could save you from future headaches. If there is any suspicious activity on your account, a fraud alert will notify you.
You will have more time to deal with the issue before more damage is done to your account.
– Find other ways of paying for things online instead of using your credit card. If you have cash available, use that instead of risking anything else.
– If someone asks for personal information over the phone or through email, hang up or close down their message window immediately and report it to authorities if necessary.
5) Use a Credit Card Monitoring Service
Credit card monitoring services are a great way to avoid fraudulent charges on your credit card.
These services monitor your accounts for you, alerting you when new transactions occur or if there is suspicious activity taking place.
They will also provide you with daily or weekly reports of the charges that have been made.
If you do decide to use a credit card monitoring service, it’s important that you have a back-up plan in case they aren’t able to contact you in time.
You should set up notifications on your phone so that you know as soon as someone has attempted to make a charge against your account.
You can even set up text message notifications through some credit card companies.
6) Sign Up for Fraud Alerts
If you’re not already enrolled, sign up for a fraud alert with your credit card company.
This will flag your account as high-risk, which means that if any fraudulent charges are made on the account, you’ll be notified immediately.
You can also set up one of these alerts for your Social Security number too.
The downside is that it may take time for the bank or credit card issuer to do anything about it, so this isn’t going to prevent an immediate theft from happening.
Still, it’s better than nothing! When you request a fraud alert, they should send out a free copy of your credit report.
Check it over to make sure there aren’t any errors or false information in it (like accounts opened in your name).
7) Report Any Suspicious Activity Immediately
If you notice any suspicious activity on your credit card account, report it immediately.
Check your account regularly for unauthorized transactions. If a purchase doesn’t look right, contact the credit card company as soon as possible.
You may be able to cancel the transaction before any money is taken from your account.
Keep a close eye on all of your accounts and make sure that there are no questionable charges or withdrawals.
If you have been victim of fraud in the past, try using one card for most expenses so that if one is compromised, it will not affect all of them.
Keep a balance between having too many cards open but not having enough available funds to keep up with monthly payments.
