| The newly introduced Chip and Pin scheme has been | | | | Avoid using numbers which can be derived from your |
| incorporated in almost all shops, shopping centres, | | | | card or your records, for example, avoid selecting |
| restaurants and websites. The main intent of | | | | obvious choices such as your birth date or part of |
| introducing such a system is to prevent credit card | | | | your phone number as your Pin. Additionally you should |
| owners from signing for their purchases with the hope | | | | avoid too many repetitive numbers; if you're stuck for |
| that it might, to a large extent, curb credit card fraud. | | | | suggestions you could try following these tips to select |
| For an initial period of time, card owners could | | | | a secure Pin number: |
| persuade shops to accept their signatures by pleading | | | | - Shift all numbers by one. If your preferred Pin number |
| that they have forgotten their Pin and shop keepers | | | | is your birth date - 020470 then your new , more |
| could bypass the Pin requirement as requested. For | | | | secure Pin number could read 131581 or 010369 |
| some time now, this has become largely impossible | | | | - Work out a pattern on the keyboard of your ATM |
| and now you can no longer sign for purchases, making | | | | - Reverse your favourite digits, read them from right to |
| fraud that much more difficult. With this new system, | | | | left, or add a sum of 44 or 77 or whatever to make |
| even though your card might get stolen and even | | | | your Pin number more difficult to guess Once you |
| though your card details can be leaked, it cannot be | | | | have selected and changed your Pin, remember to |
| used unscrupulously without your credit card Pin. | | | | keep it secret as it's the only security you have against |
| How the Chip and Pin System Works | | | | credit card fraud. If you have several cards, you could |
| The Chip and Pin is given to you by your bank - if you | | | | juggle the numbers between them for extra security. |
| haven't yet received it, you should request it | | | | After all, how many Pins can you remember? If you |
| immediately. The bank sends you a default Pin number | | | | have trouble recalling the numbers, either put them in a |
| which you can change if you wish, to do this you will | | | | password protected file on your PC or make a note |
| need to visit the nearest ATM, and select a number | | | | of it in your mobile phone. Then, of course, keep |
| you are likely to remember. | | | | praying your wallet and cellular phone are not stolen |
| Selecting a Secure Pin Number | | | | together by the same thief. |