Protect Your Card
With cardholder protection programs such as Zero Liability,* Verified by VISA, and BBBOnLine, you can feel safe and secure knowing VISA's got you covered. And with these tips, you'll help keep your VISA account protected at all times.
Card and PIN Safety
- Report lost or stolen cards immediately.
- Sign the back of your card on the signature panel as soon as you receive it.
- Protect your cards as if they were cash–never let them out of your sight.
- Don't leave your credit cards in your car's glove compartment. An alarmingly high proportion of all credit card thefts are from car glove compartments.
- Never write down your PIN–memorize it.
- Ensure that you get your card back after every purchase.
- Always check sales vouchers for the correct purchase amount before you sign them, and keep copies of your vouchers and ATM receipts.
- Always check your billing statement and verify the amounts of your purchases.
- Make a comprehensive list of all your cards and their numbers and store it in a safe place.
- Don't volunteer any personal information when you use your credit card, other than by displaying personal ID as requested by a merchant.
- Don't lend your card to anybody. You are responsible for its use. Some credit card misuse can be traced directly to family and friends.
- Never disclose your PIN to anyone. No one from a financial institution, the police, or a merchant should ask for your PIN. You are the only person who needs to know it.
- When selecting a PIN, always avoid the obvious–your name, telephone number, date of birth, or any simple combination thereof.
Mail and Phone Safety
Mail and telephone solicitations bring many tempting offers, but not all are legitimate! Be especially careful about deals that sound too good to be true, and keep the following advice in mind:
- Be wary of high–pressure sales tactics, especially if the sale must be made now.
- Record the name, address, and phone number of the soliciting organization, and obtain names of other customers who can supply references.
- Ask questions. The fewer questions the telemarketer can answer, the less likely that it is a legitimate business.
- Do not give your account number over the phone unless you initiated the call.
- When in doubt, consult the Better Business Bureau or the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
- Notify the post office immediately if you change your address.
- Make sure your mailbox is secure, and promptly remove mail.
- If you are not receiving mail, call the post office immediately. Some crooks are able to forge your signature and have your mail forwarded elsewhere for the purpose of obtaining information that will allow them to apply for credit in your name.
- If you are told of a forwarding order placed on your mail without your knowledge, go to the post office to check the signature and cancel the order. Ask the post office to track down the forwarded mail–it can remain in the postal system for up to 14 days so may not yet have landed in the criminal's hands.
*U.S.–issued cards only. VISA's Zero Liability policy does not apply to commercial card or ATM transactions, or to PIN transactions not processed by VISA. See your Cardholder Agreement for more details.
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