The first thing you should do to ensure overall protection is to sign the back of a new card as soon as you get it. You can protect it if it falls into someone’s hands. At the same time, you should analyze suspicious activity alerts, work on your password or pin for the account, and avoid putting numbers that matter to you.
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It is vital to choose a password that will be as strongest as possible and unique for each account. We recommend you avoid using the same password for retail sites, social media, and bank accounts. Besides, you can take advantage of multifactor authentication, which will provide you with peace of mind.
Suppose the account requires PIN or personal identification number. In that case, you should choose the one you do not use for other purposes. Besides, it should not be special to you, such as your birthday or phone number. Instead, choose four random numbers you can remember and do not leave them in notes on your smartphone because someone can breach inside.
Account Number Should Be Private
Avoid showing your card to others while you are in public. It is vital to avoid giving your account number to others you do not know and recognize.
It would be best to offer it only when talking to a merchant you trust, a bank, or someone you know. When someone sends you an email or text and social media to offer your personal info or to click on a suspicious link, you should neglect them altogether.
It would be best to think twice before offering your personal information online, remembering the account while making online payments, and many more. It is way better to shred documents with sensitive info than to keep them in your household. The main goal is to protect yourself from identity theft and other potential issues that may happen.
Information Should Be Current
As soon as you decide to move, you should notify your bank. Your information and statements will follow you to a new address and not end up in someone’s hands.
The main goal is to sign up for alerts with your financial institution to check whether you offered current email and mobile devices. That way, they can reach you as soon as possible in case of suspicious activity or fraud.
The main goal is to understand how your financial institution sends notifications and alerts. You can choose whether they should contact you through a phone call, email, or text message.
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Do Not Leave Receipts
It is essential to be extra careful regarding receipts, meaning you should draw a line so no one can write other numbers. You should check them against the account to detect whether a particular fraudulent transaction happened.
Finally, you should avoid throwing old ones or duplicates; instead, you should shred the ones you do not need. We recommend you secure the rest.
Secure Your Networks and Devices
Similarly, as mentioned above, you should not prevent your browser from storing your credit card number because you will be vulnerable to potential breaches. If you wish to avoid it from happening, turning off the Autofill function in each browser is vital.
When using a digital wallet, you will take advantage of the payment system on your smartphone that can conduct electronic transactions by using your credit card. Since they feature encryption, authentication, and tokenization, they are much safer than carrying it around.
Still, you should make your smartphone hard to unlock, meaning you should use fingerprint or passcode as much as possible. At the same time, it is vital to install an app to help you find a phone if you lose it.
Online Protection
Implementing basic mobile and online safety is necessary. However, you can add more things that will help you protect your situation and activities.
- Understand Your Merchant – When you decide to shop online, you should choose websites that feature HTTPS in their addresses because the last S stands for secure. At the same time, each site should feature a green lock icon. Besides, the URL should include the proper company’s name. Even if you find a secured website, you should think twice before leaving your personal information.
- Type for Each Transaction – Avoid storing your credit card at a particular online shopping site.
- Implement a Layer – When you use a mobile or online payment system such as Android Pay, Samsung Pay, Apple Pay, or PayPal, you can keep credit card numbers out of the merchant’s hands. As a result, if someone hacks a merchant, your account number will stay safe.
- Avoid Public Wi-Fi – The worst thing you can do is conduct financial transactions and shop, checking your account using the public Wi-Fi network. Since it is shared, anyone can see your information with a few hacking tools.
Analyze Your Account
It is vital to check out the recent account activity from time to time to ensure the overall safety of your credit card. You can use it through the bank’s app, phone, or online. Issuers will send you text notification and email to inform you about potential issues.
Therefore, if you have been a victim of identity theft and fraud in the past, you should sign up with a credit-monitoring service to protect you against potential issues.
Report Suspected Fraud and Lost Card as Soon as Possible
If you notice fraudulent activity or lose your credit card, you should contact the issuer or bank right away. They can block your account number and card, meaning no one else can use them. That way, they will offer you a new account number and card throughout the process.
It is vital to notify the issuer in case someone steals your card. The speed is crucial, so you should do it as soon as you notice.