Protecting your Pocket at Christmas
Christmas always seems to come earlier every year. However when we walk through a supermarket in early October and see tinsel, baubles and the laughing Santa, we might moan and groan – but more often than not we always end up on splashing out on those Christmas crackers on offer down the 25th aisle (hohoho!). Many of us will pay for these Christmas corkers on our debit or credit cards. However you must ask yourself, do I really have the right card protection?
Be wary of the ‘Christmas Hustle’ at Cashpoints
This year has seen an increase on card fraud upon lost and stolen payment cards. Figures from the UK Cards Association can reveal that fraud on stolen cards for the first half of this year alone totalled 25.7 million. Criminals, many including young gang members, are now targeting people at cashpoints – especially the elderly. PCI Paul Baynard, City of London police, has stated:
“Fraudsters will say, “You’ve dropped something” or, “You’ve got something on your jacket” and try to get the victim to bend down or turn around. Older or vulnerable people are more susceptible to this type of theft.”
Knowing How to Protect Yourself
Unfortunately criminals are relentless in getting what they want, resulting in nearly 26 million pounds being claimed on lost or stolen payment cards in the first half of 2011 (a twenty per cent increase on 2010).
Taking steps to counteract this criminal activity is paramount. When you’re at a cashpoint this Christmas, be vigilant. When using a cash machine, always be aware of people around you – and when you input your important PIN make sure no-one is watching. Ignorance is the biggest factor in card fraud, with people thinking ‘It’ll never happen to me’, but with figures on the increase one can never be too sure. Steve Proffitt, quality assurance manager at ‘Action Fraud’, gives some solid advice:
‘If someone is standing too close, or tries to distract or help you in any way, do not use the machine. You may prefer to use cash machines inside banks, where staff are on hand and the machines are normally monitored by CCTV.’
If you want slightly more security this Christmas, it might be worth in investing in a card protection plan also. This will give you peace of mind – allowing you to shop till you drop this Christmas time stress and worry free.
All in all, be smart this Christmas whilst shopping. Be aware of everything around you and always take the right precautions in protecting your payment cards - ultimately yourself and family this festive period.
Stats Reference
Fraud Insurance found here.
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