Ten Tips to Keep Your Credit Cards Safe on Vacation
#1 Inform CC Companies of Travel• Give your credit card company your travel itinerary so they don’t suspect fraud
• Pad a few days onto the return date in case something takes a while to clear or you need to stay longer
#2 Pack Smart• Only take what you actually need in your wallet
• You may not need to take all of your cards
#3 Lower Cash Withdrawal Limits
• If your card does get lost or stolen, others won’t be able to access as much cash
• You could also have a separate account for travel that is not linked to your regular checking account
#4 Write Down Emergency Phone #’s• You have the number on the
back of the card, unless it’s stolen, write it down and keep it separate from your wallet
• Finding the information online will take longer and may result in lost money
#5 Ask Hotels About Card Security
• Use a credit card, not a debit card at your hotel and keep it in the safe when not in use
• See if the hotel computers have encryption or tokenization technology to protect private information
#6 Don’t Keep All Cards in One Spot• Keep at least one card in a separate location,
either with your travel partner or the hotel room safe
• Keep cards close to your body, front pockets are better than back pockets
#7 Practice Safe ATMing• Select ATMs in safe, public places during daylight hours
• Beware of people lurking around and choose an ATM in a lobby over one on the street
#8 Use Your Eyes
• Do not sign your receipts without actually looking them over
• Place your card numbers down on the counter so bystanders can’t see the numbers
#9 Keep All Receipts
• You will have proof to dispute incorrect charges
#10 Treat Your Plastic Like Cash
• Keep it in a safe place and out of sight from others