how to protect your credit card (or score) during the holidays

How to Protect Your Credit Card (OrScore) During the Holidays

by Allan Oulate

Credit card fraud is aproblem that occurs all

year long. However, duringthe holidays, there is a

significant increase in thiscrime occurring. Fallingvictim can damage your

credit in a flash and yourcredit score can take a hitin the process. There are

certain steps you can taketo protect both your credit

card and credit scoreduring the holidays.

Always Be Aware ofYour Surroundings

Because you will be outshopping frequently

around the holiday season,it is absolutely essential to

always be aware of yoursurroundings. When youare walking around themall or even outside onyour way to a store, be

alert and keep your eyesopen for anyone or

anything that mightappear suspicious.

People can innocentlybump into you, but becareful. Pickpocketshappen in the most

seemingly innocent ways.If you are a woman, holdtightly to your purse and

keep it in clear view infront of you at all times.

Put your wallet at thebottom of your purse or in

a secure pocket within.Men should keep their

wallets in an inner coatpocket.

Guard Your PinNumber

If you are making trips tothe ATM or are paying foryour purchases with yourdebit card at stores over

the holidays, always guardyour pin number.

People can easily snoop byhovering directly behindyou or to the side and canget a quick glimpse whenyou enter your pin. If you

do notice someonestanding a little too close to

you for your comfort, askthem to step back.

You should also quicklyglance over the machine tomake sure nothing seemsunusual, as thieves today

install devices that cansteal your pin number.

Use YourSmartphone to Pay

One of the best ways tomake purchases and keep

your credit card safeduring the holidays is to

instead use yoursmartphone.

For example, Apple Pay onthe iPhone is a lot more

secure because it doesn’tactually use your credit

card number.

Instead, it relies on atransaction specific

dynamic security code thatis unique each time you

make purchases. Of course,you should ensure that

your smartphone is securewith a passcode intact andyour fingerprint scanner

active as well.

Avoid Opening NewCredit Card

Accounts

You may feel pressuredover the holidays to open a

new credit card account,even if it’s one for a specific

store. Don’t do that,because it can actually

negative affect your creditscore. This is especially the

case if you only have onecard.

Your credit will take adefinite dip, which is not

worth it during theholidays when you’re so

busy shopping for friendsand family.

Sign Up for CreditMonitoring

Signing up for a creditmonitoring service will

help keep your credit safeduring the holidays. That

way, you will be protectedand will be alerted in the

event that someone tries tofraudulently open an

account in your name.

The services offered arealso reported to the three

major credit reportingbureaus of Equifax,

Experian and TransUnion.

For moreinformation, visit

Oulatefinancial.com