Nothing will ruin a vacation more than having your credit card stolen. Pickpocketing has become so common, with as many as 400,000 incidents per day worldwide, that there is now an entire industry of pickpocket-proof wallet and bag manufacturers. Digital theft, using high-tech tools such as RFID (radio-frequency identification) skimmers, is also a growing concern.
Fortunately, there are a few things you can do to protect yourself.
A Fox News report says the best ways to protect your credit cards when traveling are to:
Use RFID-blocking credit card sleeves. An RFID-blocking wallet could be a good investment, especially if you travel a lot.
Take only the credit card(s) you plan to use. Two should be enough. The article says, “It’s also a good idea to store a secure digital record of your card details in a password manager. This can be helpful if you need to cancel or replace a card while you’re abroad.”
Turn on transaction alerts. Your bank will notify you the moment your card is used, allowing you to spot suspicious activity quickly.
Avoid public Wi-Fi. Do not enter credit card information or log into banking websites while on public networks at airports, restaurants, etc. If you must, then use a virtual private network (VPN), which encrypts your internet traffic and protects your data on shared networks.
Use contactless payments. Mobile payments, like Apple Pay and Google Pay, lower your risk of theft because your credit card number is never shared with the retailer. Rather, these systems create unique, one-time-use codes for every transaction. By keeping your credit cards out of sight, you also avoid becoming a target for pickpockets.
The article suggests it’s also smart to notify your bank or credit card company of your travel plans before you leave home. Providing your travel dates and destinations can prevent legitimate purchases from being flagged or declined.
Have you ever had your credit card stolen? Message The Seniors Trust on Facebook or X (formerly known as Twitter) and let us know what you do to protect yourself from theft when traveling.
