ATM and credit card fraud protection



With the increasing number of people who have ATM or credit cards, also comes the increasing number of bad people who will do any thing to take advantage of helpless people. As more people go shopping at the mall or go shopping online, the number of credit card frauds reported is expected to rise significantly. There are several ways in which a credit card fraud may occur. A person may use stolen or lost credit cards to buy items without your knowledge. Others may apply a credit card using your identity.



This is called identity theft. Another form of credit card fraud is when scammers use counterfeit cards for fraudulent applications. Furthermore, your credit card number may also be used to buy products or services online or over the phone without your permission. With regards to ATM, the most prevalent fraud is when other people use your lost or stolen card to withdraw your money. This might happen in just a matter of minutes after you lost your card, before even reporting it to your bank. As a card owner, you should be responsible enough to take care of your cards, whether ATM or credit cards. You should also be aware of different ways to protect your cards from fraud.

Here are some basic tips for ATM and credit card fraud protection. Always sign the back of your cards. Simple signatures can be easily copied, thus it is a good idea to create a signature that is a little bit complicated. When you use your card, always keep an eye on where you keep it so that you will not lose it or forget it so easily. If possible, keep your cards in a separate wallet or pouch. You can place them in a zippered pouch or even in a business card wallet. Placing your cards in a separate wallet or pouch assures you that when your money wallet is stolen, your cards are safe. Once you receive your ATM card, change the PIN immediately. As much as possible, use a PIN that you can remember easily but not easily guessed. For example, using your birthday as PIN is not recommended. This is because potential thieves that know you might also know your birthday. Also, even if they do not know your birthday, criminals can get such kind of information easily through several deceptive ways.

They can get personal information from social networking sites such as Facebook or Twitter. So, as much as possible, never place important information on these social networking sites. You should memorize your card number or jot down the number and keep it in a safe place. Aside from the number, jot down other important details such expiration date and the phone number of your credit card company or bank. Keep receipts of purchases made through credit cards, as well as the ATM transaction receipts. You might need these receipts in the future if fraud occurs. Never share your ATM PIN number to other people. Keep your monthly statements in a safe place.