From Your Friends at San Francisco Federal Credit Union

1. Keep hard copies of all credit and debit cards in a safe, secure place.
2. Use double-authentication on all online banking transactions.
3. Never click on any suspicious-looking links or download anything when you’re unfamiliar with the source.
4. Don’t share sensitive information online unless you can absolutely verify the identity of the other party.
5. Check your credit card and checking account statements carefully each month. Report any suspicious activity immediately.
6. Set a spending cap for your credit and debit cards as well as a specific geographic area for their use.

5 Ways to Avoid Credit Fraud

1. Keep your credit cards safe. Store your cards in a secure wallet or purse. After making a purchase, immediately return your card to that place.
2. Don’t allow websites to “remember” your card number. Only let secure payment portals, like GooglePay and PayPal, remember your card number. An even better practice is to never check the “remember card number” box for any site or portal.
3. Be wary when shopping online. Before using your credit card online, verify the site’s security and that the URL is authentic—there’s an “s” after the “http” in the web address, and a lock icon as well.
4. Report lost or stolen cards immediately. The sooner you report a missing card, the less liability you’ll have for fraudulent charges made with your card.
5. Review your monthly bill. Always look through your monthly statement to check for suspicious account activity.

This article is courtesy of San Francisco Federal Credit Union, which offers the lowest rate credit cards in the country. For more information, call 415-775-5377 or stop by one of our branches.