As identity thieves and fraudsters find new ways to steal our money, banking and card security is becoming a bigger problem. If you're worried about the safety of your credit card, the best thing you can do is keep your PIN safe. If you keep your PIN safe, a thief will have less ways to use your card. Here are some good ideas for keeping your PIN safe.
Pay attention at ATMs.
One of the most common ways for someone to get your PIN is to watch you type it into an ATM. Make sure you always cover your number while you type it in and look behind you to make sure no one is watching. Also, keep an eye out for anything strange at the cash machine, like small cameras or electronic gadgets.
Never tell
To keep your PIN safe, only you should know the number. Even though you might trust family or friends enough to give them your PIN so they can get money for you, this is a bad idea. The more people who know your PIN, the more likely it is that someone will figure out what it is. Also, never give out your PIN over email or any other form of communication, since your bank will never ask for it. If you don't tell anyone your PIN, it should stay secret.
Don't keep records
Even though you might have a lot of cards and find it hard to remember all of the PINs, make sure you don't write them down anywhere, especially on yourself. If you write down your PIN, it makes it easier for someone to steal it.
Change it up often
Even though a lot of people keep the same PIN for years, this can be risky. If you want to keep your card safe, you should change your PIN often. This means that even if someone steals your card and finds out your PIN, they won't be able to use it for a long time. It's smart to change your number every few months.
Destroy documents
When you get your PIN in the mail for the first time, you should learn it quickly and then throw away the paper. If the letter looks like it has been changed, you should ask for a new number right away. Once you know the number, you should go to a cash machine and change it to something easy to remember. Avoid numbers like 1234 or 0000 that are easy to guess.
Report anything that seems odd
If you think your PIN may have been lost or stolen, you should report this right away. Even if it hasn't been stolen, you should get a new PIN from your bank rather than risk having your money used without your permission. As long as you use your PIN wisely and take care, your card should stay safe and secure.
