• ALWAYS make sure that you have been given back your card once you've paid for what you bought.
• Be smart if you shop by phone. NEVER pay by credit card if you did not initiate the call and only use companies that you trust.
• Watch your credit card slip being filled out and then make sure they only swipe it once.  Ask for your carbons and then destroy them.  You should however, keep your credit card receipts to check them against your monthly statements.
• Destroy all old credit cards. Cut them up or se a shredder.  Don’t just toss them out.   Often your account will not change only the expiration date.  .
• Keep a list of all of your credit cards, account numbers, and the phone numbers so that in the event of theft and or even if you loose them you will be able to cancel them quickly.

Money Machine (ATM) Cards

• If you can select your own Personal Identification Number (PIN) do not use date of birth, social security number, phone number, or address. Do not write the PIN down and keep it with the card or near the card.  The more difficult the PIN for you to come up with the less likely that a criminal will figure it out.