Credit card scams and thefts have suddenly risen in the West and is trickling down to other countries as well. It is not possible to always avoid something like this from happening, but it is in your hands to provide some resistance to this activity and buy yourself some time to stay protected. We thought of jotting down a few tips and tricks that would prove useful to anyone and everyone.
1. Put your credit cards in a safe place
Ensure that all your electronic cards are safely kept in a wallet or pouch and keep this close to your body making it difficult for thieves to access them. Do not keep them in the back pockets of your loose and low-waist denims or shirt pockets. All the ladies out there, make sure your purse is properly zipped and is in a secure place. Also, carry only a couple of cards at a time. Do not carry unnecessary ones all the time. Keep them in a safe vault at home. Another important thing to note is that you must not leave your card exposed to the public eyes for a long time. After your transaction is done at the mall, immediately put the card inside your wallet.
2. Shred all your credit card statements from time to time
Crooks often dig garbage cans for scrunched up credit card statements and make use of your billing information to somehow make a transaction. So, check that all papers carrying any account/credit card information is shredded to pieces before it reaches the dump.
3. Never sign credit card statements without checking
Always make it a point to see the amount of your transaction before signing the receipt. Zero may not have a value before any digit but when the same zero is added after a digit, it makes a huge difference.
4. DO NOT share your credit card details
You may receive a call from a fraudster posing to be from your bank, or get an email from a scamster who claims he's your personal financial counselor. In any situation, never ever share your account details. Even during online shopping, opt for "Cash on Delivery" whenever possible, else make sure the payment gateway is authentic and popular. And yes, always ensure that you do not share your credit card information with friends or relatives whom you trust via SMS or WhatsApp. Everything on cloud is having the provision of backup. Stay alert and smartly share your details using a pre-determined code of some sort.
5. Immediately report loss or theft of credit card
The minute you realize that your credit card is missing, without losing a second, call up your bank and report its loss. This way you will block your card earlier and not give the fraudster enough time to make a transaction.
6. Check your monthly billing statements thoroughly
Verify each and every transaction reflecting in your billing statement. In case you identify any unauthorized charges, immediately inform your bank about it and get it sorted.
7. Set super strong passwords for your cards
You may be an impulsive online shopper, saving your card details with different websites like Amazon, Shoppers, etc. Be assured that you have set really tough passwords that would even make James Bond crazy!
8. Be aware of skimmers at gas stations and ATM booths
A lot of rogues place skimmers onto the credit card readers that will store details of your card for these guys to come later and retrieve that information. Check properly that these readers are devoid of such malicious instruments.
As they say, prevention is always better than cure; it is indeed better to stay alert by keeping in mind simple things that can help you stay secure and protected from such scams. Hope this information is useful and helps you stay safe in the digital world!
In case you have some more brilliant tips that you could share with our readers, please feel free to mention them in the comments below.
1. Put your credit cards in a safe place
Ensure that all your electronic cards are safely kept in a wallet or pouch and keep this close to your body making it difficult for thieves to access them. Do not keep them in the back pockets of your loose and low-waist denims or shirt pockets. All the ladies out there, make sure your purse is properly zipped and is in a secure place. Also, carry only a couple of cards at a time. Do not carry unnecessary ones all the time. Keep them in a safe vault at home. Another important thing to note is that you must not leave your card exposed to the public eyes for a long time. After your transaction is done at the mall, immediately put the card inside your wallet.
Crooks often dig garbage cans for scrunched up credit card statements and make use of your billing information to somehow make a transaction. So, check that all papers carrying any account/credit card information is shredded to pieces before it reaches the dump.
3. Never sign credit card statements without checking
Always make it a point to see the amount of your transaction before signing the receipt. Zero may not have a value before any digit but when the same zero is added after a digit, it makes a huge difference.
4. DO NOT share your credit card details
You may receive a call from a fraudster posing to be from your bank, or get an email from a scamster who claims he's your personal financial counselor. In any situation, never ever share your account details. Even during online shopping, opt for "Cash on Delivery" whenever possible, else make sure the payment gateway is authentic and popular. And yes, always ensure that you do not share your credit card information with friends or relatives whom you trust via SMS or WhatsApp. Everything on cloud is having the provision of backup. Stay alert and smartly share your details using a pre-determined code of some sort.
The minute you realize that your credit card is missing, without losing a second, call up your bank and report its loss. This way you will block your card earlier and not give the fraudster enough time to make a transaction.
6. Check your monthly billing statements thoroughly
Verify each and every transaction reflecting in your billing statement. In case you identify any unauthorized charges, immediately inform your bank about it and get it sorted.
7. Set super strong passwords for your cards
You may be an impulsive online shopper, saving your card details with different websites like Amazon, Shoppers, etc. Be assured that you have set really tough passwords that would even make James Bond crazy!
8. Be aware of skimmers at gas stations and ATM booths
A lot of rogues place skimmers onto the credit card readers that will store details of your card for these guys to come later and retrieve that information. Check properly that these readers are devoid of such malicious instruments.
As they say, prevention is always better than cure; it is indeed better to stay alert by keeping in mind simple things that can help you stay secure and protected from such scams. Hope this information is useful and helps you stay safe in the digital world!
In case you have some more brilliant tips that you could share with our readers, please feel free to mention them in the comments below.
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