How to Protect Your Credit or Debit Card and Account Number

To protect your account numbers, be cautious about sharing them, whether purposely or inadvertently. Know where your cards are at all times, and be suspicious of anyone who requests your number over the phone.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Credit Cards
• Paper Shredders
• Personal Organizers

1. Sign the back of a new credit card immediately upon receiving it.

2. Do not give your account number over the phone unless you initiated the call.

3. Memorize your personal identification number (PIN) if possible. If you have to write it down, don't write it on the card itself or leave it in your purse or wallet.

4. Never leave your cards unattended. Be especially careful at gyms, at work and while shopping. Also, don't put your credit cards in your car's glove compartment. An alarmingly high proportion of all credit-card thefts are from car glove compartments.

5. Use your card only for yourself. Do not lend the card to relatives or friends.

6. Always check your card when you get it back in a store or restaurant. It's easy for you to forget your card when you're in a hurry, and it's easy for waiters or salespeople to give you the wrong card when they're in a hurry.

7. Make a comprehensive list of all your cards and their numbers. Include the expiration dates and the phone numbers to call if there is a problem. Keep the list in a safe place (not your wallet or purse).

8. Always take your charge slips and destroy any carbons.

9. Check your monthly statement and match all charges to your receipts. If there are any discrepancies, call the credit card company immediately.

10. Before you throw away any mail or other papers that contain personal information and/or account numbers, shred or tear them up.

Tips & Warnings

• If you report a stolen card within 48 hours after noticing it is missing, you are liable for only $50 no matter how much the thief spends using your card and your name. Check with your bank regarding liability if you have a debit card.
• If you suspect someone has used your credit card to open an account in your name, contact one of the major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion or Experian) and have a fraud alert placed in your file. If you do this, any further credit applications will have to be confirmed by you over the phone.

[ArtZoneStudios]

on 12/20/2008 And, remember Paypal! You can get a secure card that only works one time for the one thing you wanted to buy... no surprises later, and you are protected on ebay for up to $2000...more for a car...

[sharishops]

on 11/6/2008 Checking your credit each year is also a good way to check up on your own credit practices. I recently found a few department store cards on my credit report that I don't use anymore and in fact forgot that I had. I requested that the accounts be closed as I've heard having too many cards can lower your credit score even if they have a zero balance.

[Rocki]

on 5/11/2008 i always sign back of credit card with the following
I.D. Required.
They must ask for identification (drivers license) before making charges. It works great. Also, thru experian, you can demand that only you can approve any credit card that you open new. They have to ask personal questions over the phone before merchant can open account for you.. This works really well..