- Don't hand over valuable card or bank account information
Be wary of unexpected or suspicious telephone calls or emails and never provide your card or PIN details to anyone you have not properly identified.
- Keep your cards and card details in a safe place
Fraud can happen if card details are obtained from carelessly discarded paperwork. Always keep your bank and credit card statements in a safe place and always shred any paperwork relating to your cards when it's no longer required. Never write down any PIN or password details.
- Carefully check your statements
Check your statements as soon as you receive them. If you find a transaction on your statement that you did not make, contact your bank or card provider immediately.
- Only shop at secure websites
Make sure the security icon - the locked padlock or unbroken key symbol - is showing in the bottom or top of your browser window before sending your card details. The beginning of the retailer's internet address will change from 'http' to 'https' when a purchase is made using a secure connection. By double clicking on the padlock or key symbol, you will also get confirmation that it is still valid.
- Get extra online protection by signing up for NatWest Secure
Increasingly, when making a payment online, you are recommended to sign up for schemes that ask you to verify your payments using a special password on participating sites. NatWest Secure lets you access the two main systems - Verified by Visa and MasterCard SecureCode.
- Consider using an internet-only card
If you regularly make transactions over the internet, consider opening a separate credit card account just for these transactions. This would help you monitor transactions at a glance, and limit the available credit should anything go wrong.
- Print out your order
When shopping online, make sure you get a hard copy of both your order form and the retailer's terms and conditions. When buying from overseas suppliers, remember that it may be difficult to resolve any issues that crop up. However, having all the relevant information to hand will help your bank or building society take up the case if you do have any problems.
