Massive security breaches at national retailers like Walmart, Target, and Home Depot have emphasized the importance of taking precautions when using a credit card. Here are some tips for keeping your credit cards and banking information safe and sound:
When shopping at stores, swipe your card front to back as many times as necessary to make sure you don’t leave any remnants of your credit card inside the machine.
Always give the ATM a swift kick to clear account information after a transaction.
Keep photo IDs of all your credit cards on you at all times.
Save your receipts, as you never know when a massive pile of unorganized paper may come in handy.
If you trust your cashier, arrange a discreet location to conduct the exchange.
Get a credit card with a shiny blue chip on it.
Now is as good a time as any to become one of those people who rails against consumerism.
Many thieves will place a “skimmer” inside swipers to read your card data, but there’s not much you can do about that.
Credit card companies can detect fraudulent purchases by comparing them to your usual buying habits, so try to live the most repetitive, predictable life possible.
Above all, don’t use your credit card at suspicious places of purchase, such as retailers that don’t give you a receipt, or the internet.
