Fraud prevention tips

As ATM/Debit Card Safety Awareness Month comes to an end, this week the PULSE debit network releases Fraud Prevention Tips. Although debit is a secure and convenient form of payment, it is a good idea for consumers to take some basic precautions when using their debit cards.

Important steps consumers can take to prevent financial fraud include:

• Shred all financial documents and records before disposing of them.
• Destroy unused or expired credit, ATM and debit cards.
• Remove mail promptly from your mailbox.
• Match receipts to monthly billing statements.
• Memorize PINs, passwords and Social Security numbers – do not store them in your purse or wallet
• Use longer, more complex passwords and PINs, and change them periodically.
• Sign all credit cards and debit cards immediately upon receipt.
• Notify account providers of address changes in advance.
• Immediately report a lost or stolen card and any unauthorized activity on any account.
• Never use your PIN as a password.