In today’s digital world, keeping your credit card safe offline and online is crucial. Though they are convenient payment options and offer great benefits that make every payment rewarding, they come with the risk of fraud, theft, and other mishaps.
If you fall prey to either of these, it can lead to financial loss, and your creditworthiness may also take a hit. So, it’s best to be safe and do everything possible to secure your card. Here are some easy points on what you can do.
Keep Your Card Close
Like all your other personal belongings, your credit card is also a valuable asset you may need in your daily life. If you use a physical card, it is advisable to keep it somewhere safe so that others cannot access it easily.
This can be your wallet or purse that is with you at all times. If you keep it in your pocket or some other place, there are high chances of losing your card. Additionally, make sure that your card is with you when you leave from somewhere, such as a store or restaurant.
Choose PIN Smartly
This 4-digit number should not be easily guessable. This means you should not keep your birthdate or sequential numbers as your PIN, as these details are very commonly known, and hackers can easily access them.
Keep a strong and unique code, which is very hard to guess. You should also regularly change your PIN, ideally every 6 months. This further reduces the risk of someone else guessing and using your code for unauthorised payments.
Be Vigilant
If you withdraw cash with your credit card, ensure that no one is looking at your PIN. Check and see if the slots are not compromised and fitted with skimming equipment. Doing this will help ensure your card details are secure.
In case your card is enabled for contactless payments, use wallets with RFID protection. This will help you protect your card from electronic pickpocket devices that can steal your data if your card is in close proximity.
If you are making a PoS transaction, insist that the card be swiped in your presence. This eliminates the risk of your card being swiped into a skimming device, which can lead to a loss of details.
Check Network Connections
When making an online transaction through your credit card, ensure the connection is secure. If you are connected to a WI-FI, make sure that it is not an open connection. Always connect to a secure WI-FI network while making online payments.
This helps eliminate the risk of someone intercepting the connection and stealing your details.
Visit Authentic Websites
Sometimes, hackers try to access credit cards through payment gateways while customers pay. Always shop or buy things from genuine websites that provide a secure payment gateway. This will keep your credit card information safe and enable you to complete the payment without any security breaches.
You may receive fraudulent emails and SMS that may look like what your bank or card issuer has sent. It might also mimic your favourite e-commerce or legit platform and lure you with offers and discounts.
Do not click on any such links or enter your credit card details when asking for payment. If you do, your card details will be in the hands of the scammers, and they can then carry out transactions on your card.
Do Not Disclose Any Details
Representatives or anyone else cannot ask for your card number CVV, PIN or any other confidential details. So, make sure you do not give your information to anyone, even if they say they are from the issuer’s team. If you do, your card can get compromised.
View Your SMS and Statements
Issuers are required to send you an SMS alert for any transaction done using your card. So, check any such message that you may receive, and if you did not make the payment, report it immediately.
You should also check your credit card statement and figure out whether any unknown transaction was done through the card. If you find any suspicious transactions, immediately block your card and inform the issuer.
Your credit card’s safety is very crucial because if anyone gets access to it, they can use amounts up to your maximum credit limit. By following the above-mentioned tips, you can secure your credit card.
The safety of your card and finances also starts when you apply for a credit card. Choosing a card with the best security features adds another layer of protection. For this, you can rely on the One Credit Card.
Backed by its powerful mobile app, this credit card lets you be in control of your transactions. In case you lose your card, you can easily deactivate it through the ‘My Controls’ section in the app. You can also manage all domestic and international transactions, authentication controls, limit controls, and more through the app.
You can easily make contactless payments, get cash advance, earn up to 5X rewards on your top two spending ccategories,and more. Apply now for a better and more secure credit experience.
