Protect your PIN
Protecting the PIN number on all your debit and credit cards is key to preventing criminals cloning and using your cards.

With a few simple measures you can go a long way to preventing criminals from getting your pin number:

• Never write down or give anyone your pin number.
• No agency, including the police or a credit card company, will ever ask you for a pin number, so if anyone contacts you asking for this information – never give it.

ATM Crime
Protecting your pin number is the key to stopping criminals swiping your cash.

With the advent of chip and pin cash cards crooks need your pin number to successfully clone your card.

Electronic skimming devices over ATM card slots coupled with pin-hole cameras or criminals standing nearby memorising your pin number are the most commons ways your details will be stolen.

Our advice is:

• Be vigilant every time you visit an ATM. 
• Take a few seconds to check the card slot to see if anything is obviously suspicious.
• Use your hand to shield your pin number.
• Report anything suspicious.

Credit card crime
In 2004 plastic card fraud increased by 20% to more than £500m, according to APACS (the Association for Payment Clearing Services).

This means that, on average, a fraudulent card transaction takes place every seven seconds. In 2004, the average value of a fraudulent transaction was £117.