Protecting Your Credit Card Information
By: Sarah Crump
What can happen if you don’t protect your credit card information?
If you don’t protect your credit card information, people can steal your personal information, and will be able to buy things under your credit card. You will be paying for other people’s purchases. This is called identity theft.
Ways To Protect Your Credit Card Information
Never write your PIN number on any ATM or credit cards. When you get your monthly credit card bills, always look carefully at all the transactions.
More Ways To Protect Your Credit Card Information
Make sure that you shred any monthly bank statements, credit card bills, or any documents with financial information on them. Always shield your PIN number when using a debit card, and never give your PIN number to anyone.
More Ways to Protect Your Credit Card Information
If you lose your wallet, immediately contact your credit card company and financial institutions. Always report any missing personal documents. Don’t give your credit card information to anyone over the phone, or online unless you know for sure who you are dealing with.
More Ways to Protect Your Credit Card Information
Make sure that a cashier only swipes your card once in the proper card reader. If they swipe it again when they don’t need to, they could be swiping it through a “skimmer”. It can copy your personal banking information. Don’t keep any cards in your wallet that you don’t need.
More Ways to Protect Your Credit Card Information
Make sure that you have a lock on your mail box. When you’re away, have a trusted neighbour collect your mail.
What are the chances that my personal information will be stolen?
In 2006, a survey was conducted. The survey shows that 28% of Canadians know someone who has had their credit card information stolen. If you are more careful with your credit card information, you can reduce the risk of having your own credit card information stolen.
Works Cited
Toneguzzi, Mario. “Identity Theft Fears Mount: Few Know How to Protect Themselves.” Calgary Herald (2006) eLibrary Curriculum Edition May 23, 2008 Anonymous. “Identity Theft: A Quiz for Consumers.” Vancouver Sun (2006) eLibrary Curriculum Edition May 23, 2008 Anonymous. “Protecting Your Personal Data - Or Else.” Montreal Gazette (2007) eLibrary Curriculum Edition May 27, 2008