Basic Safety Rules when Using a Credit Card Pt. 2

In part one of this article, we talked to Rick Bartlett of Bestcredit.net, who gave us some basic advice keeping your card information safe from nefarious parties.  This is important because even the simplest advice is rarely heeded by cardholders.  For example, it is important to avoid giving out the card number, expiration date, security code, or PIN code to participate in sweepstakes, promotions, at polls, phone promotions, or through offers via email and social networking websites.

If you don’t know, the credit card security code is a set of characters that is separate from the card number and is used to make one-time payments for goods and services via the Internet.  For Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club, JCB cards the security code consists of three unique characters and is located on the back side of the credit card on the signature line.  for American Express, it is a four-digit number located over the main card number on the front side of the card.

If you lose your credit card, immediately call the bank that issued the card and ask them to block the card, describing the circumstances when losing it.  For added convenience in these types of situations, Bestcredit has posted a list of best cards that offer alternative communication routes to contact your lender.  For example, you can send an SMS in a specific format to a specified number for the bank in cases where you do not have the opportunity to speak with the customer service operator. In many cases, banks’ websites have a service that allows the users to block their cards directly from the bank’s website of the bank.

Caution when Using ATMs

If possible, avoid using ATMs located in poorly lit and deserted places. Never take advice on the use of credit cards from other people, except if you are confident that it is a cashier or a bank employee.  If the room with an ATM is equipped with a door with an electronic lock which is opened with your card, remember that it must be opened without entering a PIN code. If the device prompts you to enter the PIN code to open the door lock, then it has been set by scammers preying on you for your money.  Carefully inspect the ATM for the presence of foreign objects that are not familiar to you and not common at a regular ATM — especially in the areas where the card is received and the PIN code is entered.

Card Transactions

When carrying out transactions and other operations with the credit card through a third party, require it to be done in your presence and in your field of vision.  In a bar, cafe or restaurant, if your card is taken to another room for the transaction, do not hesitate to require that the transaction is conducted in your presence.  This rule is especially important if the cashier or the place are not credible, and if you are abroad, in an under-developed country, where there is a high risk of using your card’s information or using fake documents.

When travelling abroad, credit card experts recommend using the ATMs for famous banks that are located in the central branches and major shopping centers, rather than at local stores. When returning home from high risk countries, it is recommended to contact your bank and re-issue your credit card to eliminate the risk of unauthorized use.  Even if this is not done, many banks will require you to call to inform your changes in travel plans so they they can prepare for the possibility of unauthorized transactions.

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