| Are you aware of how many ways there are | | | | address. Keep your pin numbers etc. |
| for thieves to take access of your | | | | somewhere safe and never with your |
| credit card accounts and make | | | | cards. If it is possible, the safest |
| unauthorised charges against your | | | | thing to do is to memorise and then |
| account? Simply by rummaging through old | | | | destroy pin numbers. |
| receipts that you have thrown out or | | | | If your card is out of sight during a |
| left somewhere public, or by a shop | | | | transaction try to see what is going on |
| assistant quickly scribbling down your | | | | behind the counter and seek to get it |
| card details while they are out of your | | | | back as soon as possible. While still |
| sight, or by an untrustworthy seller who | | | | relatively rare, there is a lot of |
| you give your details to on the phone, | | | | information on your card, which can be |
| by mail or on the internet, your private | | | | copied and used later on. You should |
| account details can be taken and abused | | | | destroy receipts if you do not need |
| by anyone. | | | | them. You should also check carefully |
| While most of these situations are quite | | | | all your monthly statements and make |
| rare, and there are safety measures in | | | | sure that all charges were in fact made |
| place to avoid the abuses they | | | | by you. IF you have any doubts, contact |
| highlight, it is a fact that credit card | | | | your card issuer immediately to sort it |
| fraud and identity theft is a growing | | | | out. |
| problem that is costing the financial | | | | Do's and Don'ts |
| services industry more and more each | | | | Never leave your cards lying around |
| year. Therefore it is important to be | | | | where others can get access to them and |
| aware of the potential dangers and be | | | | don't lend your card to anyone. Don't |
| familiar with a few simple steps you can | | | | sign blank receipts and never give your |
| take to reduce the risk that you will | | | | account details over the phone, by mail |
| become the victim of identity theft. | | | | or on the Internet unless you are sure |
| Take The Right Steps | | | | you are dealing with a company that you |
| One of the simplest steps you can take | | | | know and can trust. |
| is to sign all your cards on the | | | | If you do suspect fraud, or if you lose |
| signature strip on the back as soon as | | | | your cards, report it immediately to |
| they arrive. You can also consider | | | | your card issuer. By following these |
| carrying your cards separately from your | | | | simple steps you should be able to |
| wallet and driver's licence so that if | | | | considerably reduce the risks of card |
| someone were to find them, they wouldn't | | | | fraud being perpetrated against you. |
| necessarily have your identity and | | | | |