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In 2020, the fraud records will have increased which isn’t surprising given the pandemic. During such a crisis, fraud actually increases. From a new outfit to groceries delivered at your home without even stepping out of your house.
Doesn’t this sound convenient?
But with that comes a lot of credit card frauds too! From low-tech dumpster diving to high-tech hacking, credit frauds can take place every day and in a variety of ways. The truth is that it’s not always possible to prevent it from happening.
But one can surely create obstacles and make it tougher for hackers and thieves to get hold of your credit cards. Just keep in mind that hackers are waiting to grab your personal information and then make use of it.
If you’re wondering how to prevent your credit card from getting stolen then in this article you will find some of the best ways to keep your credit card and its details extra safe.
1. Keep it in a safe place
One of the best ways to avoid credit card fraud is to keep it in a safe place from where it can’t be stolen such as in your wallets or in a purse. Keeping it close to your body will prevent it from being snatched away.
It’s advisable to carry a small purse and only one or two credit and debit cards for a particular day and keep the rest at home as it becomes very easy for the thieves to steal them in high traffic or crowded areas.
Thieves can also take pictures of your credit cards so avoid exposing them longer than necessary. Always make sure to confirm it twice once you leave the store or restaurant.
2. Be smart about passwords
Undoubtedly, a number of online places can have your credit card number. It is advisable to create strong passwords using upper-lower case characters, and numbers, and even characters.
Don’t share with anyone or just write away where anyone can easily see them. Avoid using the same passwords for multiple accounts rather use different ones for different accounts.
Yes, it can be difficult to memorize all of them but you can use a password manager such as Bitwarden and LastPass. You can also protect your accounts by enabling two-factor authentication where you will be notified each time if anyone tries to sign in to your account.
3. Set up a fraud alert or freeze your credit
If you’re unaware of how long your credit card has been missing then immediately report to your credit card issuer so that they can freeze your account. This is one of the safest things to do.
A fraud alert helps to verify your identity when a thief tries to open an account. While with a credit freeze, no one accesses your credit report without your approval.
4. Be on the lookout for skimmers
The skimmer is a device that is often used by credit card thieves to steal your credit card information. They hide these devices on fuel pumps and ATMs and use magnetic strips to skim the data on the back of credit cards.
So it is advisable to look for signs of tampering before using ATMs, otherwise use another ATM that’s affiliated with your bank or check before paying for gas at the pump or else make the payment inside the store.
You can also use your EMV chip credit card if you can instead of an ATM.
5. Remember ‘S’ is for Secure
Always keep your connection secure to a website. When the web address begins with HTTPS and the padlock on the sidebar on the left side of the address bar at the top of your browser, it indicates that the site is secured.
Never enter your card number on a website that is unsecured. You don’t deserve any business that doesn’t offer you data security. Keep your details safe and never store your information on a website.
It is recommended to use secure and reputable websites for shopping and avoid shopping on public WI-FI.
In conclusion, we hope the above ways will help you to stay away from such frauds. So be safe, follow these steps and know your credit card and details are secure.
