Good Habits Protect Your Plastic Cards Against Fraud
Good Habits Protect Your Plastic Cards Against Fraudposted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 Plastic card fraud statistics are up, and much of the fraud comes from criminal activities we can't control. But safeguarding your cards-and identity-from the risk of exposure starts with keeping constant control of your cards, card numbers, and any other personal financial information. "Paperless" cash is convenient, accepted almost everywhere, and, in proportion to the volume in use, very safe. But with convenience comes risk. At the credit union, we're proud of the measures we take to help protect your cards. But we all need to be aware of actions that will minimize risk and keep our cards safe.
Make good habits and stop bad ones to minimize your card risk. Practice These Good Habits: 1. Sign your cards with permanent ink as soon as you receive them. 2. If your card has a PIN (personal identification number), memorize it. Skip easily recognizable PINs such as the last four digits of your social security number or phone number. 3. Delete urgent e-mails requesting personal information. This is commonly known as phishing. Phishers use authentic-looking e-mail to lure people into fake Web sites to obtain personal information and commit ID theft. 5. Carry only cards you're going to use. Leave all other cards at a safe place at home. 6. Watch the merchant perform your card authorization and make sure purchases are recorded properly before signing the receipt. 7. Review card transactions carefully as soon as you receive your statement or daily with online access. 8. Shred receipts and statements unless you need them for proof of purchase, warranty authorization, or tax purposes. 9. When using an ATM (automated teller machine), shield the screen and keypad with your body to prevent others from seeing your PIN. 10. Inspect the ATM to identify any tampering of the machine. Crooks can install devices to capture your information-commonly known as skimming. 11. Report card loss to your card issuer immediately.
1. Leaving your cards unsigned. 2. Disclosing your PIN to anyone-including to someone who claims to represent the card issuer or financial institution-who telephones or e-mails you. 3. Writing your PIN on your card, or anywhere else. 4. Responding to any type of e-mail request asking for your personal or financial information. Your credit union would never ask you for this-we already have it on file. 5. Responding to an incoming telephone request asking for your personal or financial information. Should our fraud monitoring department suspect fraudulent activity on your card, you will be contacted by phone and/or given one of the numbers below to call and verify charges. 6. Allowing your card to be out of your sight or allowing cashiers or anyone else to enter your PIN for you, even if they are helping you with the transaction. 7. Writing your card information on any paper check. 8. Allowing a sales clerk to write your card number on a personal check as identification. 9. Lending your cards to anyone or leaving them unsecured and unattended anywhere, including your car (even if locked) or at work. 10. Signing receipts without checking that transactions are recorded properly. 11. Throwing receipts in trash cans or leaving them where others can get at them. 12. Letting your mail pile up in an unsecured mailbox when you're traveling. 13. Traveling with just one card. If one is tainted by fraud, you'll need a backup. 14. Counting your money at the ATM. Know whom you're dealing with before providing your personal and financial information to anyone. Contact SAFE for more information. SAFE's fraud monitoring numbers:
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Good Habits Protect Your Plastic Cards Against Fraud
Good Habits Protect Your Plastic Cards Against Fraudposted: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 Plastic card fraud statistics are up, and much of the fraud comes from criminal activities we can't control. But safeguarding your cards-and identity-from the risk of exposure starts with keeping constant control of your cards, card numbers, and any other personal financial information. "Paperless" cash is convenient, accepted almost everywhere, and, in proportion to the volume in use, very safe. But with convenience comes risk. At the credit union, we're proud of the measures we take to help protect your cards. But we all need to be aware of actions that will minimize risk and keep our cards safe.
Make good habits and stop bad ones to minimize your card risk. Practice These Good Habits: 1. Sign your cards with permanent ink as soon as you receive them. 2. If your card has a PIN (personal identification number), memorize it. Skip easily recognizable PINs such as the last four digits of your social security number or phone number. 3. Delete urgent e-mails requesting personal information. This is commonly known as phishing. Phishers use authentic-looking e-mail to lure people into fake Web sites to obtain personal information and commit ID theft. 5. Carry only cards you're going to use. Leave all other cards at a safe place at home. 6. Watch the merchant perform your card authorization and make sure purchases are recorded properly before signing the receipt. 7. Review card transactions carefully as soon as you receive your statement or daily with online access. 8. Shred receipts and statements unless you need them for proof of purchase, warranty authorization, or tax purposes. 9. When using an ATM (automated teller machine), shield the screen and keypad with your body to prevent others from seeing your PIN. 10. Inspect the ATM to identify any tampering of the machine. Crooks can install devices to capture your information-commonly known as skimming. 11. Report card loss to your card issuer immediately.
1. Leaving your cards unsigned. 2. Disclosing your PIN to anyone-including to someone who claims to represent the card issuer or financial institution-who telephones or e-mails you. 3. Writing your PIN on your card, or anywhere else. 4. Responding to any type of e-mail request asking for your personal or financial information. Your credit union would never ask you for this-we already have it on file. 5. Responding to an incoming telephone request asking for your personal or financial information. Should our fraud monitoring department suspect fraudulent activity on your card, you will be contacted by phone and/or given one of the numbers below to call and verify charges. 6. Allowing your card to be out of your sight or allowing cashiers or anyone else to enter your PIN for you, even if they are helping you with the transaction. 7. Writing your card information on any paper check. 8. Allowing a sales clerk to write your card number on a personal check as identification. 9. Lending your cards to anyone or leaving them unsecured and unattended anywhere, including your car (even if locked) or at work. 10. Signing receipts without checking that transactions are recorded properly. 11. Throwing receipts in trash cans or leaving them where others can get at them. 12. Letting your mail pile up in an unsecured mailbox when you're traveling. 13. Traveling with just one card. If one is tainted by fraud, you'll need a backup. 14. Counting your money at the ATM. Know whom you're dealing with before providing your personal and financial information to anyone. Contact SAFE for more information. SAFE's fraud monitoring numbers:
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