Credit cards are now a popular and trusted method of payment for buyers and stores alike.  In addition to being a convenient and cashless payment option, a credit card offers a way of borrowing over the short-term.  However, with the increase in credit card use has come a rise in the occurrence of credit card fraud.  These are some pointers to help you keep your card safe from misuse.

1.  Take a look at your credit card statements on a frequent basis.  Question any purchases that you don’t remember making.

2.  Never save your card information on a retailer site.

3.  Never let your card out of your sight, particularly in restaurants.

4.  Use websites with payment-validation mechanisms.  It’s become increasingly common for MasterCard and Visa to install payment validation passwords into merchant processes as an additional layer of security.

5.  Be certain to sign your cards so that merchants have a signature to check against.  (You’d be surprised how many people don’t .)

6.  Guard your PIN (private identification no.) carefully by shielding your hand when typing the number into keypads.

7.  Use different PINs for different cards.

8.  Compare credit cards to find out what sort of fraud liability guarantee is available with each one.  Find out what kind of assurance, if any, the provider of each credit card offers.  A little credit card comparison in the beginning can pay you back later should you ever become a victim of criminals.

9.  Shred or burn any invoices or other documents with your card number on them.

10.  Do not purchase from little known or untrusted websites.

11.  Try to not use credit cards to buy goods from outside the developed world.  Data is significantly more likely to be compromised there.

12.  Never let anyone else use your card when you aren’t there.

13.  Never answer e-mails enjoining you to certify your credit card number or other card information.

14.  Never give out your credit card information to unsolicited telephone callers purporting to be from the bank or a store.

15.  Keep a copy of your credit card number in a secure place or commit it to memory in case the card goes missing.

16.  Call your bank or card provider straight away if you are ever unable to locate your card or you suspect a fraudulent transaction has been made.

17.  Don’t use obvious numbers for your PIN such as a date of birth or house number.

18.  Use teller machines found in busy, lighted areas or inside bank buildings.

19.  Never move away from an ATM with cash in your hand.  Always put your money into your wallet or purse before leaving the machine.

20.  Always keep your virus-protection software current and do regular security checks of your computer.

21.  Use a firewall to stop hackers from gaining access to your home system.  If you are a Windows user, turn on the Microsoft standard firewall at a minimum.

22.  Use PayPal as an accepted 3rd-party method of paying to keep your credit card information from web stores.

23.  Never give out more information than you need to to place an order.  Keep bank account details private.

24.  When using auction sites like eBay, check out sellers’ feedback ratings and only buy from those with excellent scores.

25.  Don’t keep your money and credit cards in the same place.  That way should you misplace one or have one lifted, you will have the other as a backup.

26.  Never sign off on a blank authorization form.

27.  Only take with you the card that you need for a given day’s purchases.  Leave the others behind.

28.  When moving, be sure to tell your credit card provider as soon as you can and to get all mail forwarded from your old address to your new one for a minimum of half a year.

29.  Ensure that your card issuer has your current contact info.

30.  Close any credit card accounts that you no longer use.  Once you’re finished with them they’re nothing more than liabilities.

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