5 Ways to Protect Yourself Against Credit Card Fraud: Part Two

It’s of the utmost importance to us that your credit card information is kept safe. To help you combat this, we’ve compiled 5 more ways to help you avoid credit card fraud.

1. Report Your Card: If you lose your credit card or find it stolen, it is crucial that you report it as soon as possible. The sooner you report your card, the closer you are to ensuring no fraudulent charges occur. Keep your credit card company’s information on hand, so that if this issue does transpire you’ll have immediate contact and quick action.

2. Review Billing Statements: Reviewing the charges on your billing statements can be a key player in indicating credit card fraud. If any suspicious or unauthorized charges appear, make sure to report them as soon as possible. Your card issuer will guide you on the next steps to take from here.

3. Strong Passwords: Establishing creative and unusual passwords are always a good idea because it helps mislead any potential thieves. For the most security, it is essential that the password contains combinations of upper and lower case letters along with numbers and special characters.

4. Skimmers: A hot topic on the market right now involves credit card thieves who use skimmers, targeting gas stations and convenience stores. This method of scamming happens when thieves place skimming devices onto credit card terminals located at the gas pumps that scan and store your credit card information. The thieves then come back later to retrieve the data now stored there. Skimmers are placed right over the swiping terminals, so if any part of the gas station looks suspicious or the terminal looks unfamiliar, relocate to a new one.

5. Notify Your Bank of Travels: If you’re traveling out of the country or moving, it may be a smart idea to alert your credit card company, so they can keep watch of any fraudulent activity while you’re away in a different location, and notice if any local charges occur. This is also doubly beneficial, because it eliminates the chance that they could freeze your account, thinking YOU are the scammer. When transactions are made in Europe when you live in the United States, banks are quick to take notice. If you’re traveling in Europe, let your bank know ahead of time so they can keep watch for you and avoid freezing your account upon seeing European charges. But if your bank calls you at home to ask if you’re traveling in Europe, they may have encountered fraud for you.