Travel reward credit cards can make it possible to enjoy a great vacation for less.  In addition, these credit cards offer the convenience and flexibility in spending that all credit cards provide.  Nonetheless, using your travel reward credit card does put you at risk as well.  Simply owning and using your credit card makes it possible for a thief to steal your credit card information and run up charges on your account.  In order to prevent this from happening, try following these simple steps.

 

Keep Your Travel Reward Credit Card Within Site at All Times

 

Thieves are getting more and more creative when it comes to finding ways to steal your information.  One method being employed by these thieves is a process called skimming.  With skimming, the thief simply swipes your card through a small electronic device that reads all of your credit card information.  Experts estimate that approximately 70% of those victimized by skimmers had their cards skimmed at a restaurant.  In this setting, a waiter or waitress is hired by the thief to skim cards when diners hand them over to pay for their bills.  Just that few moments out of your site is plenty of time for your information to be stolen.

 

Shred All Documents

 

The single most important investment you can make toward keeping your credit card information safe is to shred all documents containing your personal information. This includes your billing statements as well as any other correspondence that may include personal information.  When your old credit cards are replaced with new ones, be sure to shred those as well.

 

When looking for a shredder, choose one that cuts the documents up into small, confetti-type pieces.  Strips of paper can be put together by a talented thief in about one hour, but small squares or rectangles are more difficult to piece back together.  The smaller the shredder chops the pieces, the better.  In addition, be sure the shredder can handle thicker materials such as your credit cards.

 

Use Caution When Shopping Online and by Phone

 

While shopping online and by telephone is generally safe, be sure to use caution when making these purchases.  A great vacation package deal may be enticing, but if the transaction is not secured or if you are not familiar with the company you are purchasing from, the risk is simply not worth it. 

 

When you are on a secured website, you will be able to tell because your web browser will display a lock or some other symbol depending on the browser you are using.  You can also look at the website address.  If there is an “s” immediately following the “http” at the beginning of the address, you know you are on a secured site and that your online transaction will be protected from hackers.

 

When making a purchase by phone, make sure you are the one making the call and not the salesperson.  A creative thief can easily call your home and pretend to be selling a vacation package or other item simply as an means of obtaining your credit card information.