Keeping Credit Card Details Safe

undertheredsky

I'm sure this has been covered elsewhere but it's worth repeating what is a common sense message about keeping your credit card in view at all times.

I recently rented a car at Naples Airport using a credit card I only ever use for holidays abroad.

So, the typical scene when you arrive somewhere on holiday is that it's usually hot, you're queuing up to get off the plane, you're queuing up for passport control, waiting for your check-in baggage to appear and so, by the time you reach the car hire desk, you're only interested in getting away as quickly as possible.

What you're likely to have to present are your driving licence (name, address, date of birth) and a credit card (long number, expiry date and security number on the back). You're also going to be entering your PIN number. That's a lot of information to be handing over to someone else.

Except that they won't need sight of the security number because they can simply hand the card reader over to you.

Unfortunately, what I did was simply place both my driving licence and card on the slightly too high counter and, at some point during the form filling, the card disappeared out of view to the desk below. Not for long but long enough to turn the card over and note the security number.

Two days later, while still on holiday, I get a call from the credit card company as someone had attempted to use my card to order £600+ of plumbing equipment online in the UK.

Fortunately the purchase was blocked but, as it was now compromised, the credit card company had to cancel the card (the source of my cheap euros) and I'd have to wait to get home to receive the replacement.

Of course, I've no proof, the attempted fraud could have come about in some other way but due to my own carelessness I think I handed someone the opportunity on a plate.