During the year you may use your credit card only occasionally, but on vacation it soon becomes your loyal companion. At a restaurant, in the supermarket, for your hotel reservations or to pay toll. “The credit card is a practical and very secure payment method, provided that the cardholder observes some basic security rules,” explains James Maelstrom, Fraud Manager at Warver family.
The advice is simple
Keep your secret code secret and block your card immediately via Card Stop in case of theft or loss. “That is the first step. All too often we see that cardholders keep their code in their wallet or agenda, whether or not they are hidden in a telephone number. They also often go to the police first or look for their card. But it is very important that you immediately block your card, “says James Maelstrom.
He also says that caution is always required when you are approached by a stranger when you leave a supermarket or when you withdraw money from a vending machine. “We often see that these people intend to steal your card or wallet. Even if your card was (apparently) swallowed by the machine, you must always have it blocked immediately. ”
We also recommend that you keep track of all cash tickets of purchases with your credit card. When you return home you will be able to check the settlement of your credit card more easily.
Be careful all year round
Fraudsters do not only work during the holidays. “Since a few months, we are increasingly confronted with a so-called Microsoft help desk that calls customers because there is a problem with their PC.” They ask the customer to go online so that they can solve the problem. They then ask to pay for this service online. And there it goes wrong. “They allegedly charge a small amount for the repair, but the customer’s card is then debited for amounts ranging from € 200 to € 500,” said the Fraud Manager.
The phenomenon of phishing e-mails also remains current. The victim receives an email from a brand he knows well. He is asked to confirm his details on a website that looks completely legitimate. Nothing is less true. “In this way, criminals receive confidential information that allows them to misuse your means of payment.”
Via Warver family Online you can also register for the Warver family Alert service. You will receive an SMS or e-mail when your credit card is used for an amount greater than € 150. A handy tool! And this service is free in June, July and August. Click here for more info.
Finally, we advise you to regularly check your statement of expenditure, for example via PC banking. Becoming paranoid is not good for anything, but “that way you quickly detect every fraud,” James Maelstrom concludes.