In the run up to Christmas you may find yourself using your plastic cards with more regularity than usual. This provides thieves with a range of opportunities. If you are rushed, tired and stressed you might not be as on your guard as usual so read our tips and make sure you don't become a fraud victim this Christmas.
There are a myriad of ways that fraud can happen both while out shopping and in buying over the phone or internet. And if you are trying to finish your Christmas shopping being without the use of your plastic cards, for however short a time, could be extremely inconvenient. By following a few simple steps you can cut the risk of it happening to you.
While out Christmas Shopping
- Take as much care of your card as you would your cash.
- Don’t let your card out of your sight when making a transaction.
- Ask the retailer to confirm the amount being debited from your card.
- Don't use a cash machine that looks odd or tampered with. Don't get caught by skimming takes place at cash machines where a skimming device has been fitted to the card slot and a pin-hole camera fixed above the PIN pad to record the PIN entry. The information is then sold on higher up the criminal ladder, where counterfeit cards are made. Criminals then go shopping with a copy of your credit or debit card while you are unaware of the fraud until a statement arrives showing purchases that you did not make.
- Carefully discard your receipts from card transactions. Shred all your receipts and documents that contain information relating to your financial affairs.
- Check your receipts against your statements carefully. If you find an unfamiliar transaction contact your bank or building society immediately.
- Don’t leave your cards unattended in a bag, briefcase or jacket pocket in a public place or while you are having a well earned rest and cup of coffee and keep your bag or briefcase on your lap.
While shopping over the interet or phone for Christmas
A Card-not-present (CNP) transaction is one made when neither the card nor the
cardholder is present at a till point in a shop, such as transactions made over
the Internet, telephone, fax or by mail order
Over the internet
Take the following steps to protect yourself from all types of CNP fraud and to bank online with confidence
- Don’t hand over valuable card or bank account information to the fraudster. Fraudsters target cards and card details so try not to let them out of your sight. Don’t give away your PINs or bank passwords to cold callers over the phone or in response to unsolicited e-mails - often known as phishing scams. Your bank or building society would never ask for this kind of information in this way.
- Only ever use a protected computer. Make sure your computer has up-to-date anti-virus software and a firewall installed. Visit www.getsafeonline.org for more information.
- Keep your cards and card details safe in the real world. Most Internet fraud happens because card details are stolen in the real world and used online, so keep them safe at all times.
- Sign up whenever you are given the option whilst shopping online to Verified by Visa or MasterCard SecureCode. Increasingly when you go to pay online with your card you will be given the option of signing up to these schemes that involve you using a password. By signing up you will prevent a fraudster using your card details on participating sites as they will not know your password.
- Only shop at secure websites. Ensure that the security icon - the locked padlock or unbroken key symbol - is showing in the bottom of your browser window before sending your card details. The beginning of the retailer’s Internet address will change from “http” to “https” when a purchase is made using a secure connection.
- Make sure your browser is set to the highest level of security notification and monitoring. The safety options are not always activated by default when you install your computer. The most popular browsers include Microsoft Internet Explorer, Firefox and Opera. Check that you’re using a recent version - you can usually download the latest version from these browsers’ websites.
- Always check your statements. Check statements as soon as you receive them. If you find a transaction on your statement that you did not make, contact your bank or card company immediately. Tear up, or preferably shred, any documents that contain information relating to your financial affairs.
- Consider using an Internet-only card. If you regularly make transactions over the Internet consider opening a separate credit card account specifically for these transactions. This would enable you to monitor transactions at a glance and credit cards offer additional consumer protection should anything go wrong.
- Print out your order. When shopping online make sure you get a hard copy of both your order form and the retailer’s terms and conditions. When buying from overseas remember that it may be difficult to seek redress if problems arise, but having all the relevant information will help your bank or building society take up the case if you have any problems.
- Visit the websites www.getsafeonline.org, www.cardwatch.org.uk and www.banksafeonline.org.uk for more information about how to shop and bank safely online
Over the phone
- Don’t give your card number over the telephone to “cold” callers. Only make telephone transactions when you have instigated the call and are familiar with the company.
- Have your card in front of you. The retailer may ask you for information including the card number, the expiry date, the three or four digit card security code, the issue number (where applicable) and your name as it appears on your card.
- Always ask the retailer to confirm the full price that is being charged to your card, including any booking fee, delivery charges etc. Make a note of this amount at the time of the call.
- If the retailer sends you written confirmation of the order, check the bill to ensure that it is correct. Keep any such receipts and check them off against your next card statement.
General card safety
- Guard your card and card details.
- Never write down your personal identification number (PIN) and never disclose it to anyone, even if they claim to be from your bank, building society or the police.
- When using a cash machine, be wary of anyone who might be trying to watch you enter your PIN and do not allow yourself to be distracted by anyone or anything.
- Don’t keep your cheque book with your cards.
- Report lost or stolen cards or suspected fraudulent use of your card account to your bank or building society immediately. The 24-hour emergency number is on your last statement, or call directory enquiries for the number.
- Sign any new cards as soon as they arrive.
- Cut expired cards through the magnetic stripe and/or chip when replacement cards arrive.
- Pay attention to card expiry dates. If your replacement card hasn’t arrived call your bank or building society to check the status of the new card.
If you are a victim of card fraud
- Inform your bank or building society immediately.
- Report the theft or loss to the police immediately. This can be inconvenient and time consuming but it will simplify the process of getting your bank or building society to refund the losses from any unauthorised use of your card.
- If someone else uses your card before you tell your bank or building society that it has been lost or stolen, or before you tell them that someone else knows your PIN, the most you will have to pay is £50. In practice the bank or building society will usually refund the full amount lost, but if you are shown to have acted fraudulently or without reasonable care, for example by keeping your PIN written down with your card, you may have to meet all the losses.
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