We use our cards for shopping, traveling, gifting and a host of other purposes. But, as a credit card user, it is important that you are aware of the rules that govern protection as well as the proper steps to take in the event of fraud.

Online Credit Card Fraud Protection: The Internet is a common place for fraud. You need to be very careful about how you use your card online. Here are some tips:

• Ensure that a site is secure before you enter into any transaction (look for the “https://” in the browser – notice the “s” after http)
• Never provide your credit card information to anybody over email
• Beware of phishing sites that request your card information. These sites pretend to be official sites requesting updated information. Pay close attention to the URL as scammers often use similar sounding domain names to setup their fake sites.

Credit Card Fraud Protection Offline: There are many methods to protect yourself in the real world. They are encompassed in these 10 sensible tips:

1. Never lend your credit card to anybody
2. Never give your card information over the phone unless you have placed a call to a company you know to be reputable.
3. Never write your PIN number on the back of your card (this applied to debit)
4. Always keep your credit cards in a safe place when you are not carrying it on your person.
5. Don’t carry all your cards on you at once. Choose one primary card and one backup card and only carry these two cards with you.
6. Shred all your correspondence with regard to your credit card as soon as it is possible to do (cross-cut shredding is best).
7. Shred all your credit card receipts after you have made the payment for them. If you think you need to keep them for, store them in a safely locked place.
8. Never photocopy the front and back of your card. If a photocopy of your credit card is required, only provide a copy of the front of your credit card.
9. Don’t write your account information on anything that can be publicly accessible.
10. If you are storing any credit cards in your home, put them in a hidden place rather than somewhere obvious like your desk or dresser.

In Case of Fraud: If you haven’t been able to prevent credit card fraud and you find that your card has been stolen or lost, report it to your bank immediately. Even if you have the slightest suspicion or doubt that your card may be used fraudulently, get in touch with your card issuer and request immediate assistance. Most credit card companies have a 24 hour hotline available to report lost or stolen cards. Also, you need to remember that once you have reported loss, theft or possible fraud on your credit card, you are not liable to pay for any unauthorized charges on your card. At most, you may be required to pay up to $50 per lost account, but this is also usually waived by most banks.