How to Set a Secure Credit Card PIN and Password
Any person who uses a credit card must know how important it is to prevent unauthorized charges. Although credit card users are not responsible for any fraudulent charges made through their cards. However, it is extremely frustrating and time-consuming to clear out one’s credit reputation and remove liability for charges.
Therefore, it is critical to take preventive measures to avoid credit card fraud, such as creating hard-guess PINs and passwords for credit card and online accounts. Also, making sure to keep these details safe once created.
In the next section of this article learn how to set secure credit card PINs and passwords.
Setting a Secure Credit Card PIN
If the card comes with the ability to take out cash, every cardholder needs a four-digit PIN or personal identification number. Sometimes the card issuer sends the PIN a few days after the card has been mailed to you. Or at the time of card activation, they may ask you to select the PIN.
When you are asked to choose the PIN, avoid using:
- Your date of birth
- Your mother’s name
- Your anniversary
- Your kid’s or any relative’s date of birth
- Your social security numbers
- Your phone number or any number that can be traced back to you
- Generic numbers such as 1234, or 4321
Put some thought while creating your credit card PIN to make it impossible for the thieves to guess.
Read more >> How to effectively dispute a credit card chargeback?
Setting a Secure Password for Online Credit Card Account
People who access their credit card details from an online account must create strong passwords to log in. In most cases, banks and card issuers provide a set of criteria to follow to create passwords to prevent fraudulent activities.
A secure credit card account password must contain:
- Minimum 8 characters; long passwords are hard to guess.
- Upper- and lower-case letters both within the password, uppercase should not just be at the beginning.
- Special characters such as punctuations or numbers should be placed randomly throughout the password.
- Characters from the different places on the keyboard, make it hard for someone to guess if they are watching you type.
- Bonus tip: Be creative!!
How Can Credit Card Security Be Improved?
Creating strong passwords or PINs is not enough, the next step is to keep them safe from hackers or scammers.
- Do not write your password or PINs on notebooks, digital docs, etc. to prevent people from accessing. Also, never write the passcodes on your credit card or store it with your card.
- Do not send your sensitive details via text messages or emails.
- Do not give access to your password or PINs to anyone.
- Do not call out your password or PINs aloud in public where people can hear you.
- Do not save your password or PINs on browsers.
- Always enter your password on secure sites and be careful while entering your details into a website link received via email.
- Change your passwords regularly, such as every 90 days, and avoid reusing the same password.
If you have further questions about credit cards and their security then please contact our team.
