Library of Congress Federal Credit Union

We have some tips to help you avoid credit card fraud, including skimmers, phishing, vishing, and more from our partners at BALANCE.

• Never Share Your Credit Card Details: Actual employees from banks or credit card companies will never call you and ask you for the credit card number, expiration date, or CVV number as part of any verification process. Never divulge this information to anyone online or offline.
  
  Always ensure you type your financial institution’s URL in the address bar of your browser, rather than clicking a link in an email. Phishing perpetrators usually set up a website similar to your bank or credit union’s to fool you into handing over your credit card details. Also, look at the address bar and ensure the browser verifies the site’s security certificate. It may say “secure” or there may be a padlock symbol. Don’t enter your credit card details at any site whose security isn’t verified.

• Keep Checking Your Account: Instead of waiting for your monthly statement to scan for anomalies, keep checking your credit card account online at least once a week to ensure there are no unusual transactions. Small charges also shouldn’t escape your scrutiny. Small charges on your account may well be an indicator that someone is trying to test your CVV number. Be vigilant and ensure you inform your financial institution about any unusual charges you find.

• Never Let Your Card Out of Your Sight: When giving your card for payment, ensure that it remains visible the entire time. Additionally, don’t give your PIN to anyone. Instead, insist on typing the PIN yourself on the POS machine. It may be difficult to check whether the POS device used by the merchant is genuine or has been modified to skim your card. If something doesn’t feel right, take your card back.

• Check Your Credit Report: You’re entitled to a free credit report every year from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion through AnnualCreditReport.com. You can use this to check if someone else has used your identity to make transactions. The credit report will give you detailed evidence of any fraudulent activities in your name. If you see some fishy activity, initiate a fraud alert with your credit bureau so that financial institutions or creditors are informed every time a credit request comes up in your name.

• Check Where You Swipe Your Card: There are many skimming methods to steal your card information. Sometimes it involves attaching a skimming device inconspicuously to an ATM. Gas stations, department stores, and other retail locations may also have compromised POS machines with a skimmer placed on them. Usually, the skimmer on a POS machine can be detected if you look carefully for any ill-fitting parts. To get an idea of what to look for, check out YouTube videos on identifying a skimmer at a POS.

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