Credit card companies work hard every day to make sure that your private information is kept safe. However, this doesn’t stop criminals from thinking more outside the box to get their hands on your credit card details.
Check out all the ways that your credit card information can be stolen and how you can prevent it from happening to you.
Top 5 ways a thief can steal your credit card information
1. Phishing emails
This is perhaps the most popular way that scammers like to get information out of you. The emails can be carefully designed to look legitimate by claiming to be from an important institute like your bank or the government.
Urgent language will typically be used, saying that you must act quickly to make sure that you do not get in any kind of trouble. They will ensure you that by clicking a link or opening an attachment and giving away your personal information, like your credit card number, you will be safe from further consequences.
Before you know it, you’ve given a scammer exactly what they need to steal your information and use it for their benefit. Make sure you don’t fall for this kind of trick.
2. Public WiFi Networks
Although public WiFi networks are convenient, they also can pose a great danger to your privacy. Using a network available in a place like an airport or a coffee shop can put your information at risk to a scammer who was able to hack into the network and monitor it. Take caution before you decide to sign onto a WiFi Network that isn’t private.
MORE: MY VPN KEEPS ME SAFE AND SECURE, SHOULD I EVER TURN IT OFF?
3. Data breaches
This is an issue that we cannot control, however, it is still worth noting. Large institutions, especially ones like banks and credit card companies, are a constant target for criminals. The big masterminds will try to break through the security measures of these institutions so that they can steal information from hundreds or even thousands of people at once.
This is why these institutions have cybersecurity teams regularly monitoring and testing out their security feature so that malicious hackers cannot get through.
MORE: TOP IDENTITY THEFT SCAMS TO AVOID
4. ATM skimming and trash
This is a more old-fashioned approach, however, it can still work like a charm for a scammer. If you receive anything in the mail with your credit card number and throw it away without ripping it up or shredding it, a criminal can search through your trash and easily locate the information.
Criminals have also been known to bug ATMs with devices that gather your card information when you insert or swipe your card, which is why you should always be super cautious before using a public one that isn’t connected to your bank.
FOR MORE OF MY TIPS, SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE CYBERGUY REPORT NEWSLETTER HERE
5. RFID readers
If your credit card has an RFID chip embedded in it, a criminal can attempt to use an RFID reader to pick up the signal. RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) transmits data wirelessly through radio waves to an RFID reader. For a thief to steal your info, they would need to have a portable RFID reader and get close enough to your card to pick up a signal.
How can I prevent my credit card information from being stolen?
There are numerous steps you can take to make sure that your credit card information is never stolen or compromised. Here are some tips to keep in mind for the future.
Never give your credit card information over the phone or via email
If you receive an email or phone call from someone you don’t know and they want your credit card information, do not give it to them. Also, remember that legit institutions like your bank or any government branch will never ask for this information over the phone or through email and will only send you letters in the mail.
Use a VPN
VPNs (Virtual Private Networks) will protect your information when you’re using a public WiFi network. A VPN encrypts your internet traffic and routes it through a secure server, which can help prevent third-party websites, Internet Service Providers (ISPs), or hackers from intercepting your online data.
My #1 recommendation when it comes to using a VPN is ExpressVPN. Its setup is super quick, it works in 94 countries, and it won’t log your IP address, browsing history, traffic destination or metadata, or DNS queries for a scammer to snoop at.
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Regularly check your statements
when you get your credit card statement, make sure you go through every transaction and verify that each one was performed by you.
Shred your mail
If you have trash mail that you’re throwing away that has important information on it, make sure you shred it or tear it up into small pieces before tossing it.
Only use secure websites
if you’re paying for something online, make sure that the website URL starts with “https.” This will verify that the website is legit.
Use an RFID-blocking wallet
Here are a few of my recommendations that get high ratings to help protect your credit cards from RFID readers.
- For men, this Slim Wallet has over 109,000 ratings with a 69% at time of publishing giving it 5 stars.
- For women, this RFID Leather Clutch Wallet has over 15,900 ratings at time of publishing, with 81% giving it 5 stars.
- For men and women, this zippered credit card wallet, has over 47,000 ratings at time of publishing, with 80% giving it 5 stars.
Use an Identity theft protection service
If you want a service that will walk you through every step of the reporting and recovery process, one of the best things you can do to protect yourself from this type of fraud is to subscribe to an identity theft service.
My top recommendation is Identity Guard. Identity Guard will monitor personal information like your Social Security Number (SSN), phone number, and email address and alert you if it is being sold on the dark web or being used to open an account. They can also assist you in freezing your bank and credit card accounts to prevent further unauthorized use by criminals.
One of the best parts of using Identity Guard includes identity theft insurance of up to 1 million dollars to cover losses and legal fees and a white glove fraud resolution team where a US-based case manager helps you recover any losses.
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Read more of my review of the best identity theft protection services here
Final thoughts
Credit card companies are working diligently to protect your private information. Still, criminals continue to find creative ways to steal credit card details, such as phishing emails, public WiFi networks, data breaches, and ATM skimming/trash digging. It’s crucial that you take preventive measures like being cautious with sharing your information, regularly checking your credit card statements, shredding mail, and only using secure websites to safeguard your credit card information.
Have you dealt with credit card theft before? Let us know how you handled it in the comments below.
FOR MORE OF MY TIPS, SUBSCRIBE TO MY FREE CYBERGUY REPORT NEWSLETTER HERE.
Related:
- Top identity theft scams to avoid
- My VPN keeps me safe and secure, should I ever turn it off?
- How to send spam calls directly to your voicemail on your phone
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22 comments
I can LOCK my RBC credit and debit card so all fraudulent attempts are automatically declined. I UNLOCK my credit card or debit card before a purchase and re-lock it shortly afterwards… That’s added protection.
Same here; this works great for me.
I get about 10 phishing emails a day now… Frustrating… I never open..just send to trash… I am also now getting phishing emails made to look like messages from the city. I think ALL credit card companies should have the same thing Citi Bank does… they have virtual numbers that you can use to buy things with online. The Virtual number you get are only good for that one purchase so if the place you bought something at is hacked, the numbers they find are no good anymore…
I have had my credit card stolen at Walmart online. They claim no one has access. I stopped a purchase when Walmart told me my curbside order would be ready in 2 hours in an another state! I called the store and stopped the pickup.