How to Keep Your Debit Card Number (PIN) Safe

Keep your PIN private to avoid someone else using it to purchase goods.

Debit cards provide instant cash and thus are attractive to thieves. In order to be safe, it is important to keep your PIN (personal identification number) private. Accidentally sharing your PIN is more common than you may think and may lead to a thief using your account to purchase goods.The following steps are some easy ways to ensure that no one else uses your account.

Things You'll Need

• Debit card
• PIN

Instructions

1. Do not share your PIN with anyone. Sharing with a close friend or a family member may seem harmless, but you never know what may happen in the future. The friend or family member may turn against you in the future or she may be threatened unless she gives up your PIN.

2. Be wary of emails or websites asking for your personal information, especially information regarding your bank account. Never give out your personal banking information online unless you trust the website.

3. Shield your PIN when entering it. When you enter your PIN at an ATM or while making a purchase, always cover the key pad with your other hand. If you don't, people who are standing behind you in line may catch a glimpse of your PIN.

4. Never write down your PIN. If you are afraid that you may forget it, disguise it within a sentence or use phrases that will make you remember your PIN. For instance, if your PIN is 0023, you can write it down as "Double-O 20 + 3". This will not seem as obvious as writing down "My PIN number: 0023".

References

• Bank of America: How to Keep Your Credit Card Safe