As the number of cyber thieves keeps on increasing, data breaches continue to become a part of life. Hence it is very important to learn the means of protecting yourself. Here are some great tips, which if followed would save you from the evil of credit card hacking.
Obtain a Replacement Card
If you are told that you are facing a data breach, the best thing is not to ask anything. Simply tell the company that they should either give you a new card or else you would be closing the account. Most probably, you would not be receiving any kind of pushback from the company which is already embarrassed. In the rarest case that you do, never back down.
Check the Concerned Account Online
Do not wait to check the ‘victimized’ account after you get the statement; check it as soon as you come to know of the hack. Moreover, after you receive the new card, it would be good to continue checking the account daily for a minimum period of 30 days. In case you come across a suspicious charge, immediately dispute the same.
Freeze Your Credit
If you are the victim of a data breach, contact each one of the three major credit bureaus and ask them to freeze your credit report. Once the freezing is done, nobody would have access to your credit report without approval. Creditors most likely would not approve an application if they have no access to the credit report of the person.
Order for Credit Reports
As per law, you are entitled to one free credit report every year, but most probably you will be eligible for more number of free reports in case you were a victim of a credit card hack. Even if no fraud had yet happened, it is wise to be proactive in obtaining your free reports. Preferably, order a free report once every four months. This will ensure that you cover the entire year.
Be Careful About Phishing Scams
If thieves get hold of your credit card number, it does not imply that they are also in possession of the CVV number or the expiry date. So be careful about phishing, wherein the thief might resort to sending an e-mail or calling in order to extract other valuable information. Do not reveal your information to anybody without calling them.
Avoid Signing Up for Expensive Fraud Protection
More often than not, you may be tempted to dish out as much as $300 per annum to obtain credit monitoring services. Avoid such things. If you closely review the information that you get free of cost, you would be able to monitor your own accounts. In case an organization offers the information to you at no cost, ensure that you cancel the service prior to the date of renewal.
Be Clever Regarding Passwords
Employing every password rule does not guarantee the prevention of a breach, but you never know the type of information that thieves would be stealing. Go for strong passwords comprising random numbers and letters, and also make sure to frequently change your password. Remember, a password that is convenient for you to remember would definitely be easy for a thief to crack.
