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