In today's environment, the use of technology for business is extensively needed to maintain the continuity of transactions. Within the banking sector, there are different operations that act as delivery channels for relatively convenient customer banking. Credit card, for instance, is an effective and widely accepted delivery channel to maximize banking experience and carry out transactions anytime and anywhere. Because of this, it became a necessity for consumers in the past years. However, we cannot deny the fact that using it has its own risks for misuse and theft.

Thieves are always armed with various methods to use credit cards fraudulently. The easiest way for consumers to become a victim of credit card fraud is through a stolen purse or wallet, but technological innovations paved way for more sophisticated ways of acquiring that piece of information.

It's important to know the consequences and risks of using your credits cards, so in order to maintain credit protection, here are some ways that can help you increase security.

Receiving your card for the first time

1. Whenever there are tampering on the sealed envelope of your credit card, contact your credit card issuer immediately.
   
   
2. Affix your signature on the reverse side of the card, and write your card number, security code and expiry date in a separate sheet. Do not share this information and put it in a safe place with your other documents. Credit cards are exclusively for personal use and should never be lent to anyone unless extremely necessary.
   
   
3. Commit your PIN to memory and change it at least every six months as a precautionary measure. Do not use a PIN that can easily be decoded, such as your birth date and see to it that no one is eyeing at you when you type your PIN.

During a transaction

1. Ensure that there are two printed slips for a transaction; the merchant should keep the one with your signature and the other should be given to the card bearer.
   
   
2. Keep an eye on your credit card when making high-street business. Make sure that it's your own card (and not from someone) returned to you after a transaction. Keep all your sales slips in a safe place, because these will be used for future purposes and counter-checking of monthly bills.
   
   
3. Make sure that whenever you receive a credit card-related call, it's from an authorized person or representative. There are some credit card companies that contact their client after making transactions (particularly large ones) to ensure that the purchase is really made by them and not by someone else.

Online shopping safety

1. Always shop with a secured browser –when finalizing your payments, make sure that the webpage is encrypted. Do not shop online with an unsecured browser or a public connection. As much as possible, use your personal computer with a good antivirus tool.
   
   
2. Review the merchant's reference and see to it that they are a reputed online seller. Some online shops may claim to be secured, but they don't have the necessary encryption. To ensure safety, shop only on websites with a secured browser and look for the "lock" symbol on the URL address bar.
   
   
3. Know how phising can compromise you. Do not make payments through emails, because legit online shops use a secured and encrypted payment process to ensure the confidentiality of the clients' information.

Personal safety

1. Do not leave your card unattended and carry only the ones that you need.
   
   
2. Check your monthly credit card statements for any unauthorized transactions. You can also conduct cross-checking by comparing the printed receipts you kept against the monthly statements you received. This is one way to ensure that all information and paid amounts are correct and yours.
   
   
3. In case of a lost credit card, notify your credit card immediately before doing anything else. This limits your risk of becoming a fraud victim due to a stolen credit card.