Most people are not aware that you can be a victim of credit or debit fraud if you still have the physical card. One criminal activity that is gaining ground today is SKIMMING. This is where the thieves place a device, which is undetectable to the human eye, on gas station pumps and ATM machines. Here, the data is collected each time the card is swiped to make a purchase or withdrawal. This information is then used to create a counterfeit card.
A few weeks ago in my hometown, police were finding skimming devices placed in the panel where all the electronic components are for the gas pump. Placing the skimmers there, you have to have a key to the panel making them undetectable to the human eye. Criminal are stepping up the game and are now able to just pull into the lot and access someone's card via Bluetooth.
Check your account balance and activity often. If you have a mobile app, simply check your account balance and activity. If you use the phone teller, check your balance and activity. Do the same if you use text banking. If you notice anything suspicious, call your financial institution.
Copy the customer service phone number from the back of each of your debit or credit cards and keep this list in a separate location from your purse or wallet in case a thief steals the latter.
Let issuers know your travel dates and destination. If your card gets swiped at an unusual location, the card issuer may decline the suspicious transaction.
Sign up for banking alerts if offered by your financial intuition. These will inform you when particular changes occur, such as irregular card activity.
These are just a few ways to help protect you, your family and your money. As more popular ways to exploit peoples information comes to light, I will be updating this page to include how you can protect against those attacks.
If you have any questions or specific things you would like me to address, add this site, or elaborate on then please let me know in the comment section on the next page. PLEASE SHARE WITH YOUR FRIENDS
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