Consumers use their credit cards to make purchases at stores, for online shopping, paying bills and by giving it out over the telephone for purchases. Fraudsters are always at work trying to get your credit card details so that they can steal your money and your identity. It is absolutely essential that you keep the details of your credit card information safe at all times to protect yourself from such unscrupulous characters
When shopping online you have to make sure that the site you use is secure. Such sites are usually denoted by https. This means that when you enter your information the software on the site encrypts the data so that others using the server on the page cannot gain access to your private information. It is also important that when you do enter your credit card information online that you do so on your own computer rather than one that is shared among many users. You should also clear your browser cache from time to time to ensure that someone else cannot see what pages you accessed and try to gain access to your credit card in this way
Always make sure that the site you use for online shopping is secure. These sites will have a privacy statement assuring you that you won’t be endangering your credit card information by shopping on them. Some of the details of personal information that a fraudulent person can use if he/she does obtain your credit card number is your mother’s maiden name and the three digit number on the back of the card. These two pieces of information could open you up to fraud if you give them to the wrong person.
You should think carefully about giving out any personal information and your credit card number to any unsolicited calls. It is best to ask the caller for information so that you can return the call to confirm the details. In most cases, the caller will not do so and will often end the phone call. When you use your card over the phone, you should be very wary about how much information you provide. Some of the details fraudsters can use to gain access to your account include the three-digit code following your account number on the back of the card and your mother’s maiden name
Be very careful when giving out your credit card information over the phone in response to solicitation phone calls. Some of these calls are fraudulent. When you receive a call offering some service or product and the caller wants your credit card information, the best course of action is to take the telephone number and call this person back. In this way, you can be sure it is from a legitimate company
The same thing applies to an email that claims to come from the HM Revenue and Customs. UK residents have received such emails telling them that their tax returns have been reviewed and that they are entitled to an additional refund that will be paid to their credit card account. The government will never contact you in this manner and will only do so in writing. Disregard such emails and delete them from your computer