How to Secure Your Card Information

Editor’s note: This is the third entry in a yearlong series on protecting yourself against fraud. You can read additional posts about fraud here.

We’ve talked a lot in this space about how prevalent fraud is – and it is. It is everywhere.

Fortunately, there are many things you can do to protect yourself, and many of the financial products you use to manage your daily finances – like credit and debit cards – offer a host of fraud protections.

We talked with our credit and debit card fraud investigator to learn the best ways you can secure your personal information on your credit card.

Utilize the chip entry or contactless payment feature.

At many card terminals, you have the option between swiping, inserting, or tapping your card (or your digital wallet like Apple Pay, Google Pay, or Samsung Pay) to make a payment.

You may not think it matters, but when it comes to card security, it does.

Inserting your chip-enabled card and tapping your card both offer a more secure transaction than simply swiping your card.

Chip and contactless payments are encrypted, meaning (a) fraudsters can’t steal your information during the transaction, (b) that even if a merchant is hacked after your transaction occurs, your information is safe, and (c) the chip cannot be counterfeited, unlike the magnetic strip used for swiping.

Never provide your PIN or one-time passcodes to anyone.

This tip falls in line with a lot of other tips about being wise with your personal information. Just as you shouldn’t give someone your online banking credentials, don’t give your PIN or a secure access code to anyone. Yes, this includes even your family members. And it definitely includes that card customization business you found online.

Check back next month for more tips on protecting your identity and your financial life.