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