━━
( Source: Lari Bat / Shutterstock )
Ensuring the security of our funds is crucial, especially in an online environment. Online financial fraud is on the rise and physical card theft is no different. We have a great tip for you to protect your funds and fool thieves.
The best way to keep our funds safe is with our bank. However, fraud is on the rise with thieves trying to impersonate employees of a bank or other institution. However, if we are careful enough, there is very little chance of this type of fraud taking place. However, it is also important to take care of the security of your physical payment card.
There is a very simple and effective trick to protect your funds while fooling potential thieves. The trick is to write a fake PIN on your credit card. Thieves most often assume that they will get the PIN for the credit card with the theft of, for example, a wallet, backpack or purse. Many people who don’t remember their PIN either write it down on their phone or write it as a note on a piece of paper.
If a thief attempts to enter your fake PIN three times, the ATM will evaluate this activity as suspicious and block the credit card in question . The best way to protect your funds from thieves is to write your fake PIN on a piece of paper, which you then stick ideally on the front of your credit card, this way the potential thief will think it is the real PIN for your card.
━━ When inventing a fake pin, avoid the classic 1234 style.
( Source: ronstik / Shutterstock )
It is important that your fake PIN looks authentic. It needs to have four digits that look credible enough, for example pin 1234. At the same time, do not give potential thieves a clue to your real PIN. It should not be, for example, a swapping of double digits or any other possible clue to your real PIN.
If you discover that your payment card has been stolen, it is best to contact your bank to ensure that the card is blocked and that it can be misused. Most banks nowadays already offer the possibility to carry out these actions yourself, for example through a mobile app or internet banking.
Most important of all, however, is prevention and vigilance. Don’t give potential thieves a convenient opportunity to rob you. Always keep your payment card carefully and keep an eye on what’s going on around you, especially when you pay by card or use ATM services. It is also advisable to use options such as Google Pay or Apple Pay and install your payment card on your phone, this will make it harder for thieves to do their job.
