Personal Services

Safety Tips

Card and PIN Safety | Telephone and Mail Safety | Internet Shopping Tips | ATM Safety

Federal Reserve Board's 5 Tips for Protecting Your Checking Account 

Fraud Prevention

Card and PIN Safety

  • Maintain a list of your card numbers and the telephone number of the card issuer. Keep this list in a safe place away from your cards.
  • Report lost or stolen cards immediately. Also, call your card issuer if you have not received your new or replacement card on time.
  • Sign your card on the signature panel as soon as you receive it. Cut up cards you no longer use.
  • Protect your card as if it was cash. Do not leave it unattended in your car (a high proportion of credit card thefts are from car glove compartments), or in a bar, at the beach, etc.
  • When selecting your PIN, avoid using your name, telephone number, date of birth or any number that could be easily figured out.
  • Protect your PIN number. Do not write it down or disclose it to anyone. No one from a financial institution, the police, or a merchant should ever ask you for your PIN. You are the only person who should know it.
  • Never sign a blank receipt. When you sign a receipt, draw a line through any blank spaces above the total.
  • Make sure you receive your card back after each purchase. If possible, do not let your card out of your sight.
  • Always compare your receipts and sales vouchers with your billing statements. Verify the amounts of your purchases – report any discrepancies to your credit card provider.
  • Never include your account number or other confidential information such as social security numbers by email. Email is not secure and may be intercepted by outside parties.
  • Shred old statements and receipts that may have your account number on them before throwing them out.

Telephone and Mail Safety

  • Take care when giving your credit card number over the telephone. It may be better to ask for information in writing from the company making the offer.
  • Do not give out your credit card account number over the telephone unless you initiated the call and have decided to make the purchase.
  • Don’t be pressured by high-pressure sales tactics, such as sales that must be completed the same day. Ask questions – the fewer that a telemarketer can answer, the less likely it is that the business is legitimate. Do not give your credit card number to anyone calling to tell you that you have won a gift and your credit card number is needed to receive it.
  • If you stop receiving mail, call the U.S. Post Office immediately. In some cases, a person’s signature has been forged on a forwarding order, so that a criminal can obtain documents that will enable him to obtain credit in someone else’s name. If this is the case, have the post office track down the forwarded mail. It can remain in the postal system for up to 14 days and may not be in the criminal’s hands yet.

Internet Shopping Tips

  • Designate one credit card with a low credit limit to use for all web based transactions. This minimizes the amount of damage a thief can inflict.
  • Update anti-virus and anti-spyware software. These will help protect consumers from hackers who try to capture consumers’ personal information even as they type it into a website.
  • Shop with reputable online merchants that you trust. Look for signs of security: to see if a merchant site is secure, look for:

An unbroken lock or key

A URL that begins with “https://”

        The words “Secure Sockets Layer” (SSL)

  • Read the merchant’s guarantees, warranties, and return policies to avoid unnecessary or unauthorized fees. Also, review the merchant’s privacy statement. Some companies automatically collect and use customers’ names, addresses and other personal information. This information may be shared with other companies.
  • Keep a record of your transactions, and keep receipts for verification with your Visa statement. If any charges appear that you did not make, immediately report and dispute them by notifying your credit card provider in accordance with their rules and procedures.

ATM Safety Tips

  • Protect your ATM Card as you would your cash, credit cards, or checks. Notify your bank immediately if it is lost or stolen.
  • When selecting your PIN, avoid using your name, telephone number, date of birth or any number that could be easily figured out.
  • Protect your PIN number. Do not write it down or disclose it to anyone. No one from a financial institution, the police, or a merchant should ever ask you for your PIN. You are the only person who should know it.
  • Utilize an indoor ATM located in an open business whenever possible. If using a drive-up ATM, make sure all car doors are locked, and the passenger windows are rolled up. If using a walkup ATM, park close to the ATM in a well-lit area, have your ATM card out and ready to use before you leave your car and lock your car.
  • When using an ATM, be aware of your surroundings, particularly at night. It is a good idea to have another person with you when using the ATM at night. If you observe any suspicious persons or circumstances, cancel your transaction and leave the area at once.
  • Stand between the ATM and anyone waiting to use the terminal so that no one is able to see you enter your PIN or the transaction amount at the ATM.
  • Never allow a stranger to assist you in conducting an ATM transaction, even if you have trouble or your card is stuck.
  • If you get cash, put it away right away; don't stand at the ATM and count it – count it later in a safe place.
  • Take all receipts or transaction records with you.
  • If anyone follows you after you have completed your transaction, go immediately to a crowded, well-lit area and call the police.