Be careful with your plastic

 

April 23, 2008

Becoming the victim of some sort of fraudulent activity is something that many of us have become increasingly worried about over recent years, and with levels of plastic card fraud on the rise it has become more important than ever to try and protect ourselves as much as possible. Of course, there are some situations that we have not control over, such as banks and other agencies losing our personal and financial data, putting us at increased risk of becoming the victims of identity fraud and theft. However, when it comes to the safety of your plastic you can exercise some simple common sense in order to increase safety.

Be careful with your statements

When we receive our statements if can be all too tempting to just toss some of the pages into the waste paper basket once we have finished with them, but this could all too easily lead to fraud. It is surprising how much information opportunist thieves can get from the rubbish that people leave outside their houses. Simply throwing paperwork containing your card details in the rubbish could put you at risk, so always make sure that you completely destroy this type of data – it may be worth investing in a desk top shredder.

Be careful about where you use your card

Many of us enjoy the convenience and ease of being able to shop online with our plastic cards, but you need to remember that the Internet can be a breeding ground for opportunist fraudsters. It is all too easy to get duped into giving your details when you are online, and levels of CNP or Card Not Present fraud are at high levels. Always make sure that you only use your card on a secured site that is known to you, and never link to any of your accounts through an email, as this can enable fraudsters to get a hold of your details. Also, do not leave any passwords or account details on sites if you share a computer with someone that you do not completely trust.

Be careful about who hears your card details

Many of us also make transactions by phone with our credit card, and once again you need to exercise caution with regards to who overhears you making your call. Make sure that you only give out card details over the phone in a call that you have made rather than to someone that has called you. Also, be vigilant about who is around when you are giving your details, as you will be surprised at how much information someone can pick up about your account simply from listening whilst you are on the phone.

Don’t delay if your card is lost

If you lose your card or think that it may have been stolen you should contact your provider without delay, so that a stop can be put on the card in case it has fallen into the wrong hands. Whilst this may mean that you are inconvenienced whilst awaiting a new card, at least you will not have to worry about facing huge financial losses.

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