Top Ten Tips: Beat the fraudsters

THE cost of credit and debit card fraud in the UK fell slightly last year but still amounted to more than £365 million, the UK Cards Association revealed last week.

But the organisation warned that a sharp rise in the number of online fraud attacks demonstrated that there was no room for complacency.

Gavin Littlejohn, chief executive of Money Dashboard, presents his top tips on preventing plastic card and identity fraud.

1 Be sceptical

Be very wary of anyone who contacts you out of the blue asking for information, even if they claim to be from your bank or card company. Ask for their details, then verify them with the organisation before parting with any information. This applies online too, where phishing scams are becoming extremely sophisticated. Fortunately, there are some useful telltale signs. For example, often the sender's e-mail address does not tally with the organisation's website address and you're encouraged to click through using a web link. But think before you click and check out the web address by right clicking on it. Be very wary if the address is almost, but not quite, the same as the normal web address of the organisation.

2 Watch your numbers

Don't keep a note of your Pin (personal identification number) in your wallet, keep it well obscured when keying it in and don't disclose it to anyone. If you're asked to give your card to a cashier for a purchase, then watch carefully and don't let it out of your sight. More guidance on the safe use of credit and debit cards can be found at www.financialfraudaction.org.uk.

3 Vary your passwords

Don't use the same password for more than one account and never use banking passwords for any other websites. Using different passwords increases security and makes it less likely that someone could access any of your other accounts.

4 Online security

Check for a padlock symbol in the browser window to signify that the site has a security certificate and an address that starts https:// rather than the usual http://. If you're asked to enter private information and these two key features are missing, then you are doing so in a site that is not secure.

You can check further by double-clicking the padlock to show the security certificate for the site - if you get a warning that the address of the site does not match the certificate, do not continue. That's why it's good to get into the habit of entering the address of any banking, shopping or financial transaction website into your browser yourself, rather than just clicking on links.

5 Don't put it on display

Be careful about how much information you disclose on social media sites such as Facebook. Your phone number, date of birth and details of your schools and workplace can all help identity thieves build up a profile of you and even give them clues to common security questions. So err on the side of caution and make sure that you set a secure privacy setting on whichever social media site you are using. 6 Rip them up

Make sure you shred any mail with personal details - don't just throw it in the bin where identity thieves can find it. Watch out if you're receiving less mail than usual too, as it could be because it's being illegally redirected. If you suspect that's the case, contact Royal Mail customer care. If you move address, tell all the financial organisations you deal with right away and redirect your mail, too. To find out more about avoiding identity theft, visit www. cifas.org.uk..

7 Clear out your wallet

Try to keep the number of cards you carry in your wallet or purse to a minimum. Store any documents containing personal details - such as your bank statements, utility bill, passport, birth certificate or driving license - in a very secure place and always take care if you are carrying any of them with you.

8 Don't wait too long

If you apply for a new card and it doesn't arrive when you would expect it, contact the issuer immediately. The same applies if a credit card bill doesn't arrive. Know when statements are due and make sure you contact your card company as soon as you think one may have gone astray as this could be a sign of someone trying to use your identity.

9 Keep tabs on your credit report

This is a good way to make sure no account or credit has been illegally set up in your name. You can order an online report from credit specialists Experian, Equifax or Call Credit from just 2 to see what information they hold on you. By regularly monitoring it, you can alert the relevant parties and stop the fraudster in their tracks.

10 Report it

If you do fall victim to credit card fraud or identity theft, tell your bank/credit card company immediately. Also tell the police and one of the credit specialists above, who will make a note on your profile.