3 Credit Card Scams.

These can include temporary card readers used when your credit or debit card is taken away by a waiter, shop assistant, garage attendant etc., for payment. These can record the details from the magnetic strip on your card.

Some thieves insert plastic sheaths into cash machines which then prevent you from removing your card after you give up entering your PIN number - thieves are often watching you repeatedly key-in your PIN until you give up and leave. They then recover your card and use it to obtain YOUR cash.

Old credit card slips/receipts sometimes contain enough detail to allow a thief to order goods and services using YOUR card number. “Bin Raiding” is on the increase – thieves carefully sift through rubbish bins for papers to piece together information about you – and then use their new “identity” to obtain goods or services. Dispose of old bank or credit card slips carefully – consider buying a shredder for these slips, and other letters or paperwork that contains personal details.

Consider joining a credit card protection service (e.g. Sentinel, CPP, or those run by banks) for approx. £10 - £15 per year. These record all your card details and one phone call to them in the event of theft or loss of cards will ensure they are cancelled promptly, and replaced. (They often cover keys, luggage etc. also)

Some card companies offer protection if you suffer theft or fraud while shopping online - check with your bank/card company if you use the internet a lot when ordering goods.

Authorised Bank or Credit Card personnel will NEVER ask you for a PIN or Password etc. Do NOT give-out this information, no matter how credible the reason, or plausible the person asking.

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