Credit card fraud
Credit
card fraud happens when someone steals your credit card, credit card information,
or Personal Identification Number (PIN), and uses it without your permission to
make purchases in stores, online or by telephone, or to withdraw money from an
automated bank machine (ABM).
Tips to prevent credit
card fraud
Most
fraud starts with stolen personal information, such as your name, address, date
of birth, and Social Insurance Number (SIN). Don’t leave any personal information
lying around at home, in your vehicle or at the office. Keep it out of
reach, and shred it when it’s old or no longer valid. You should also choose a
PIN that is difficult to guess, and never write it down or give it to anyone
else. It is also useful to keep, in a safe place, a list of the cards you carry
with you, including phone numbers to call in case of theft.
Tips can also help you protect
your credit card information:
• Carry a
limited number of credit cards with you.
• When
entering your PIN, cover the keypad with your hand or body so that no one can
see your PIN by “shoulder surfing” – looking over your shoulder.
• When at
a merchant, keep your card in sight at all times to prevent “skimming” or “swiping”.
Skimming happens when a thief passes your credit card through a device that
reads and records the information from the magnetic stripe.
• If you
notice something suspicious about a transaction or a credit card device at a
merchant or ABM, report it to the merchant’s head office and to your credit
card issuer.
Post a Comment