• Don't give out your credit card number(s) online unless the site is a secure and reputable site. Sometimes a tiny icon of a padlock appears to symbolize a higher level of security to transmit data. This icon is not a guarantee of a secure site, but might provide you some assurance.

• Don't trust a site just because it claims to be secure.

• Before using the site, check out the security/encryption software it uses.

• Make sure you are purchasing merchandise from a reputable source.

• Do your homework on the individual or company to ensure that they are legitimate

• Try to obtain a physical address rather than merely a post office box and a phone number, call the seller to see if the number is correct and working.

• Send them e-mail to see if they have an active e-mail address and be wary of sellers who use free e-mail services where a credit card wasn't required to open the account.

• Consider not purchasing from sellers who won't provide you with this type of information.

• Check with the Better Business Bureau from the seller's area.

• Check out other web sites regarding this person/company.

• Don't judge a person/company by their web site.

• Be cautious when responding to special offers (especially through unsolicited e-mail).

• Be cautious when dealing with individuals/companies from outside your own country.

• The safest way to purchase items via the Internet is by credit card because you can often dispute the charges if something is wrong.

• Make sure the transaction is secure when you electronically send your credit card numbers

• You should also keep a list of all your credit cards and account information along with the card issuer's contact information. If anything looks suspicious or you lose your credit card(s) you should contact the card issuer immediately.

1. Report the loss or theft of your credit cards and your ATM or debit cards to the card issuers as quickly as possible. Many banks/companies have 24-hour e-mail service to deal with such emergencies. It's a good idea to follow up your e-mail with a letter. Include your account number, when you noticed your card was missing, and the date you first reported the loss.

2. You also check your homeowner's insurance policy to see if it covers your liability for card thefts. If not, some insurance companies will allow you to change your policy to include this protection.

3. After the loss, review your billing statements carefully. If they show any unauthorized charges, it's best to send a letter to the card issuer describing each questionable charge. Again, tell the card issuer the date your card was lost or stolen, or when you first noticed unauthorized charges, and when you first reported the problem to them. Be sure to send the letter to the address provided for billing errors. Do not send it with a payment or to the address where you send your payments unless you are directed to do so.

4. If unauthorized transfers show up on your bank statement, report them to the card issuer as quickly as possible. Once you've reported the loss of your ATM or debit card, you cannot be held liable for additional unauthorized transfers that occur after that time.

5. Also follow the rules advised by the Issuing Banks to cover such eventualities scrupulously

The best protections against card fraud are to know where your cards are at all times and to keep them secure. For protection of ATM and debit cards that involve a Personal Identification Number (PIN), keep your PIN a secret. Don't use your address, birth-date, phone or Social Security number as the PIN and do memorize the number.

The following suggestions may help you protect your credit card and your ATM or debit card accounts.

1. Be cautious about disclosing your account number over the phone unless you know you're dealing with a reputable company.

2. Never put your account number on the outside of an envelope or on a postcard.

3. Draw a line through blank spaces on charge or debit slips above the total so the amount cannot be changed.

4. Don't sign a blank charge or debit slip.

5. Tear up carbons and save your receipts to check against your monthly statements.

6. Cut up old cards - cutting through the account number - before disposing of them.

7. Open monthly statements promptly and compare them with your receipts. Report mistakes or discrepancies as soon as possible to the special address listed on your statement for inquiries. Under the FCBA (credit cards) and the EFTA (ATM or debit cards), the card issuer must investigate errors reported to them within 60 days of the date your statement was mailed to you.

8. Keep a record - in a safe place separate from your cards - of your account numbers, expiration dates, and the telephone numbers of each card issuer so you can report a loss quickly.

9. Carry only those cards that you anticipate you'll need.

1. Don't carry your PIN in your wallet or purse or write it on your ATM or debit card.

2. Never write your PIN on the outside of a deposit slip, an envelope, or other papers that could be easily lost or seen.

3. Carefully check ATM or debit card transactions before you enter the PIN or before you sign the receipt; the funds for this item will be fairly quickly transferred out of your checking or other deposit account.

4. Periodically check your account activity. This is particularly important if you bank online. Compare the current balance and recent withdrawals or transfers to those you've recorded, including your current ATM and debit card withdrawals and purchases and your recent checks. If you notice transactions you didn't make, or if your balance has dropped suddenly without activity by you, immediately report the problem to your card issuer. Someone may have co-opted your account information to commit fraud.