Bank card protection
Every year, more and more users fall victims to internet fraudsters who come up with more inventive ways to steal people's money. To protect yourself from theft, follow these tips:
Use multiple cards
Don't keep all your money on one card. Keep your main funds in a savings account in a bank. Use your bank card for day-to-day expenses. Get a separate card for online payments.
Set a daily withdrawal limit
If you set a daily withdrawal limit, scammers won't be able to withdraw all of your money at once, even if they get access to your bank card.
Keep your PIN code safe
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Don't tell anyone your PIN code, a confirmation code from an SMS message, your card's CVC/CVV2 and expiration date, or the owner's name.
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Remember your PIN, but don't write it down. Change it every three months.
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Cover the keyboard with your palm when you enter the PIN code.
Don't share your card details
Know where your card is at all times. Don't give it to anybody (for example, to the waiter when paying the restaurant bill). If someone takes a photo of your card or copies its details, you may lose your money.
If you lose your card or think someone else might have your card details, block it and get a new one.
You don't need to send a photo of your card to get a transfer from someone — just give them the card number.
Find more tips on how to protect your data in Phone fraud.
Use safe ATMs
Use ATMs that work 24 hours and are located in a bank office. Don't use ATMs installed outdoors, in suspicious offices, or at shopping malls. Unlike the ATMs located in a bank, these can be accessed by fraudsters. They can use the following devices to copy your card details:
- Homemade magnetic strip reader attached to the card reader.
- A fake keypad placed on top of the real keypad that records PIN codes.
- A miniature camera pointed at the keypad.
Before inserting the card, inspect the ATM. Fraudsters' devices are often poorly or carelessly fixed (with visible traces of glue and chips), appear loose on the ATM, and differ in color or size.
If money was taken from your card
Alert
Transfer the rest of the money and block the card as soon as possible before the thieves take all your funds.
- Use your online banking app to transfer the remaining money to another account if you have one.
- Block the card in the app or by calling the bank's hotline.
- Contact support of the company that the money was sent to.
- Contact your bank to get your account statement with the thieves' transactions. File an application to dispute fraudulent transactions.
- Report the incident to the police and attach your bank statement to it.