If you have a PIN or password with which you can access your credit card details online, this is something that you need to memorize and keep the written information regarding it in a safe place. You should never give out these details to anyone, no matter how much you trust this person. In fact, it is better that you destroy the information about your credit card when you receive it in the mail. Your credit card statements can also be a source of information to con artists. If it is not possible to burn the statements when you don’t need to keep them for your records, then you should tear them into tiny pieces before you put them in the trash.

Always know where your credit card is. If you usually keep it in your wallet, make sure you have a good hold on this wallet. When you are going out at night to a crowded club, it is best to use cash and leave your credit card at home. This will reduce the temptation of using the card when you don’t really need to and will keep it safe from thieves who can quite quickly steal your card.  When you do enter your PIN number at a store to make a purchase make sure you do guard the number with your hand so that it can’t be seen by cameras of those standing in line behind you

There has been an increase in the number of calls people in the UK have been receiving of late requesting details of their credit cards promising to get them a better interest rate. These are not legitimate calls. If you do receive one of these calls, you should ask the caller for the name of the company and the telephone number so that you can return the call. Chances are you won’t get the information and the caller will likely hang up.

In recent months, consumers in the UK have been the subject of fraudulent emails from persons claiming to be from HM Revenue and Customs. In these email, consumers are told that they are entitled to a tax refund and in order to claim this money they must enter their credit card details. The government will never contact you by email and will never ask for a credit card number. However, there have been many consumers who have fallen for this and have lost large amounts of money

Fake emails, called phishing scams, are also ways in which unscrupulous persons can gain access to your credit card. One example of such an email is one that looks as if it is a legitimate one from your bank or credit card company telling you that you have to update your personal information. If you do so, then you give these people unlimited access to your account and can cost you a lot of money.