Credit/debit card fraud is a form of identity theft. It occurs when a criminal deceitfully gains access to and uses another person’s payment card account. If this happens to you, fraudsters may not stop at racking up charges on your card in a store. They can cause many other problems, including accessing and changing your personal information.

You can reduce your exposure to card fraud and theft by following basic card account maintenance and safety practices.

• Safely store cards when they are not in use.
• Consider the amount of cards you possess. The benefits of having several may be outweighed by the risks, such as losing track of their location or account activity.
• Always memorize your card PINs. Never write them down on cards or share them with others. Change them frequently.
• Make a list of your card account numbers, expiration dates, and customer service phone numbers. Keep the list in a secure place that you can access quickly if your cards are lost or stolen.
• Go “paperless” with bills and statements.
• Check your card activity and bank accounts regularly. Look for unfamiliar charges.
• Keep a close eye out for charges of less than a dollar to two. A thief may first charge a small amount to “test out” using your card.
• When you receive replacement cards, thoroughly destroy the old ones.
• Stop unsolicited credit card convenience checks. Thieves can steal these from your mailbox or trash and use them to access your credit and identity.
• Don’t give out card information over the phone unless you made the call and you know you’re dealing with a trustworthy business.
• Assign just one credit card for online purchases.

  You can stop receiving unsolicited, prescreened offers of credit or insurance by mail as well as by phone or email. Call 888-5-OPTOUT or go to optoutprescreen.com. You can choose to opt out for five years or permanently.