Protect Credit Cards When Traveling with These Essential Tips

Traveling abroad can be an exhilarating experience, but it's essential to take precautions to protect your credit cards from potential theft or loss.

Always keep your credit cards in a safe and secure location, such as a hotel safe or a money belt, to prevent them from being stolen or misplaced.

Never leave your credit cards unattended in public places, like on a table at a restaurant or bar.

Make sure to inform your bank about your travel plans to avoid any account restrictions or suspicions of suspicious activity.

Store multiple RFID cards close to each other in your wallet to make them harder to read, or carry them in your front pocket to discourage thieves.

Using an RFID shield wallet or protective sleeve can also protect your card's signal. You can also wrap it in foil or store your card next to an RFID jamming card for extra security.

For maximum security, only use your credit card for at-home, online purchases. This will minimize the risk of someone intercepting your card's signal.

Consider carrying your wallet in front of you when shopping, especially in crowded areas, to maintain a safe distance from other customers.

Before you leave, make sure to let your bank or card issuer know you're traveling. This will prevent them from flagging unfamiliar transactions, which could result in your card being declined.

Tell them about your trip, including your destination and dates of travel, so they can keep an eye out for suspicious activity. Additionally, find out your card's daily ATM withdrawal limit, expiration date, account balance, and available funds to ensure you have sufficient funds for your trip.

To stay on top of your finances while abroad, consider checking your account balance regularly or using an app to track your spending.

Protecting yourself online, particularly when using offshore websites not subject to U.S. laws, is surprisingly easy.

Using virtual account numbers from banks like Capital One can be a great option. They generate a temporary credit card number, expiry date, and security code that can only be used for one transaction, making it a secure way to shop online.

Some third-party vendors are providing a similar service through E-wallets like AlliedWallet. This can be a convenient alternative if your bank doesn't offer virtual account numbers.

Before you leave for your trip, it's a good idea to let your bank or card issuer know you're traveling. This way, they won't flag unfamiliar transactions, which could lead to your card being frozen.

Tell your card issuer about your trip in advance so they can update their records. This is especially important if you'll be traveling to a foreign country or using your card in a different region.

Make sure you know your card's daily ATM withdrawal limit, so you can plan your expenses accordingly. This will help you avoid any issues when you need to withdraw cash.

Knowing your card's expiration date is also crucial, as you'll need to have a valid card to use for transactions. Check your card's expiration date before you leave to avoid any inconvenience.

Having a clear understanding of your account balance and available funds is essential to avoid overdrafts or running out of money. Check your account regularly to stay on top of your finances.

As you prepare for your trip, don't forget to learn more about Dynamic Currency Conversion to make the most of your Visa card while traveling.

To minimize the risk of your credit cards being scanned by thieves, place your RFID cards next to each other in your wallet. This can make it more difficult for them to read a particular card, but the protection is limited.

Carrying your RFID cards in a front pocket can also make you less vulnerable to thieves who could step up behind you with a scanning device. If you usually carry your credit cards in a wallet in your back pocket, you're potentially more vulnerable.

Be aware of other people around you when using your credit cards, especially in crowded areas. Some of the newest RFID technology limits the opportunity of thieves to scan your cards to short distances and only at the time of the sale.

To stay safe, check around you to make sure that nobody is standing within a few feet of you before using your card in a store. This will help you identify any potential risks.

Here are some additional tips to protect your credit cards while traveling:

Regularly monitoring your credit card statements will help you and the credit card company identify any unauthorized purchases and can limit your potential losses. Some sources say that this is actually the "best" protection against identity theft.

As you start preparing for your trip, it's essential to set a good security foundation early.

Choose a secure password and PIN for your online accounts, just like you would for your credit and banking accounts. This will help prevent identity theft and credit card fraud.

Turn on account alerts to be notified of potential fraud on your card via phone, text, or email. This can help you detect unauthorized charges and suspicious activity.

Signing the back of your card as soon as you receive it can also help prevent credit card fraud. This allows merchants to compare the card signature with the receipt signature to ensure they match.

Using a card with an EMV security chip is a great way to protect yourself from credit card fraud. Cards like the Chase Sapphire Preferred Card produce unique, single-use tokens that are impossible to predict and cannot be reproduced by hackers.

You can also protect yourself from identity theft by using RFID-blocking wallets like the Access Denied Men's RFID Blocking Wallet or choosing a more robust solution like Amourcard, which actively jams nearby radio frequency signals.

Applying for mobile alerts is another simple step you can take to stay on top of your card activity. Sign up for free text alerts when a transaction exceeds a pre-set amount or when unusual card activities are detected.

Geolocation software can also be a fantastic security feature, but it's not widely available yet. If your bank offers this service, it will pair geolocation software with your card on request, so that if the card and your phone are not in the same location, the transaction won't process.

If you notice any suspicious activity on your credit card account, contact your bank immediately to report the issue.

Contacting your bank within 2 hours of noticing suspicious activity can help minimize potential losses.

Always keep a record of your credit card numbers and expiration dates in a safe and secure place.

Life can be unpredictable, and sometimes things don't go as planned. Eligible Visa Signature cardholders can get help finding a referral for medical, legal, and transportation assistance, as well as other goods and services, through Travel and Emergency Assistance.

This service is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and can connect you with local emergency and assistance resources. You can call 1-800-992-6029 to get your questions answered, or 1-804-673-1675 if you're outside the U.S.

Keep in mind that this benefit is provided on a best-effort basis, and may not be available due to time, distance, or location issues.

Credit card information is stolen in 35% of data breaches, making it a significant concern for individuals and businesses alike.

The most common way credit card information is stolen is through phishing scams, where attackers trick victims into revealing sensitive information.

In the US, credit card data breaches resulted in $6 billion in losses in 2020, with the average data breach costing $3.86 million.

Phishers often use fake emails or websites that look like those of legitimate companies to steal credit card information.

In 2019, a phishing scam targeted over 100 million Marriott International customers, exposing their credit card information.

The use of credit card skimmers, which are devices attached to ATMs or payment terminals to steal card information, is also on the rise.

In 2018, a study found that 1 in 5 ATMs in the US had a skimmer installed, with the average skimmer costing $200.

The best way to protect yourself from credit card information theft is to be cautious when entering sensitive information online or using ATMs.