Debit cards are more in use than ever. Their simplicity and ease of use, not only in taking out cash but also in online transactions and direct transactions have made them immensely popular. But on the hind side, there has also been a large increase in the cases of debit card fraud.
We read about them every day. While it is true that banks and businesses take a lot of action to keep you secure, there are plenty of things that you can do too. And you can read the rest of this article to know what those things are.
Save Yourself From Debit Card Frauds
1. Keep checking your bank activity regularly
Being aware of what you did and did not do is very important in any aspect of security. This is especially true when it comes to banking as well. You should regularly keep track of your bank activity, looking for anything out of the ordinary.
If there is an unfamiliar charge to your account then you should immediately call your bank and enquire about it. If there has been a transaction that you did not authorize then waste any time to report for fraudulent activity and to cancel your card.
2. Guarding your debit card
It is important to keep your debit safe. A stolen or a lost purse may likely be at the hands of a fraudster and he will not waste any time to make a dent in your account. It is very likely that he will know that you will act to cancel your card. So he will be quick in doing the damage he intends to. All the more reason for you to act quickly. It is also important to keep your wallet containing your credit card safe.
3. Keeping important debit card information safe
Being careful with sensible information will go a long way for you. The same goes for data regarding your debit card. These days it is a common habit to keep track of things using note-taking apps. While it is useful, it does not account for security. If your phone falls under the wrong hands, your debit card information can be used by fraudsters. It is also a great idea to shred any document that contains such information if you need to discard them.
4. Taking care while shopping online using debit card
You can’t completely avoid online shopping and it is a great way to shop, to be honest. But there are a few things that you should keep in mind while doing so.
- While you enter your debit card data make sure that the net address has https in it. The s stands for secure. In addition to that make sure that there is a padlock icon near the address bar.
- You will likely receive several emails from frauds pretending to be from banks or retailers. Avoid these at all costs.
- Always make contact before providing any of your personal information. Real businesses won’t inquire about your debit card information without any reason.
- Never purchase anything while you are connected to an unsecured network.
5. Have good communication with your bank
There are a lot of things that you should let your bank know every now and then.
- Keep your bank posted about changes in your contact and personal information. This includes stuff such as your mobile number, email address, your current address, etc. Now the bank can contact you a lot faster in case anything suspicious comes up. It will also make it easier for them to notify you about their new security updates.
- You might have to go abroad or to some other distant locations for somewhat extended periods for various purposes. In such times, notify your bank about the dates on which you plan to stay there.
- There will be an emergency number somewhere on your debit card. Note it down and use it when you need to. Also, keep the bank’s customer service number saved in your contacts.
6. Checking the ATM you visit to withdraw money
Thugs and fraudsters have a lot of tricks up their sleeves these days. It is true that they have gotten a lot smarter and are constantly trying to up their game. Messing with the ATM machine is one of their dirty tricks. You have to be careful around them.
Carefully look for any anomalies. Sometimes, there will be add-ons on the card reader. So make sure to give them a good shake. Similarly, the keypad might be tampered with too. There might be hidden cameras monitoring the keypad or the whole keypad may be a fake one.
7. Taking care of some regular things
There are plenty of small things that can help you to decrease the chances of debit card fraud.
- Always use your hand to cover the keypad as you type in your PIN.
- Be aware of your surroundings. Sometimes a thug might be waiting for you outside or he might come up from behind when you enter your PIN.
- It would be wise to avoid sharing your PIN with anyone. Don’t let anyone take your debit card either.
Destroying your old debit card
Immediately destroy your old debit card after you receive a new one. Be sure to cut the card through the part that the machine scans. This will get that microchip in it for sure.
Conclusion,
It is not really your fault that there are a lot of people out there trying to trick you so as to steal from you. But it is your responsibility to keep your money safe. Its always better to be safe than sorry. Follow these instructions and be safe.