How to protect your credit card from frauds and misuse?
How to protect your credit card from frauds and misuse
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There is no doubt that while using a credit card you need to be extra careful. If stolen or misplaced, people can use the card to make purchases in person on online. So, it is important that you always remember to keep your credit card back in a safe place after every transaction is over. Some important ways to protect your card from forgery are:
1. Sign as soon as you get the card: The first thing you should do when you get your credit card is to sign at the back of the card. This is because if your card is stolen, the person can easily use it for purchasing something as the seller will not be able to cross checks the real owner of the card.
2. Memorise your PIN: You should either memorise your personal identification number (PIN) or keep it at a safe place where no unknown person can track it. If your card goes missing it can be used to withdraw cash from ATM in case your PIN is tracked down. Another safe practice is to change your PIN regularly and not disclose your PIN in a public place.
3. Block it if stolen or misplaced: If your credit card is stolen or you misplace it, you should immediately contact the customer service and request them to block your card. This will ensure that your card can't be misused by anyone else for any kind of transaction.
4. Be wary when getting photocopy of credit card: It has been noticed recently that the cases of using duplicates of credit card for shopping transactions are on a rise. To avoid such happenings, you must be careful whenever you get a photocopy of your credit card as it contains a card verification value (CVV) at the back which is needed for online transactions.
5. Avoid giving credit card information on phone or internet: Although we all commonly use the internet service for shopping transactions, but we must know that it is not a recommended practice as some sites can't be trusted. Never give out information about your credit card over the phone as it can be misused.
6. Make sure your card is swiped in front of you: Credit cards can be a very dangerous tool if it comes in the hands of a wrong person. Whenever you need your card to be swiped, make sure its done in front of you as some people could swipe it more than one time or even write the details somewhere that could be used later.