Theft of your credit card is definitely a very unpleasant experience. To avoid this, we offer you some pieces of advice. Study these carefully, and follow them when you are going to travel using your credit card.

1. To lower the possibility of theft, first of all, we strongly recommend you to take only necessary plastics with you, leaving at home those which you do not need. Be watchful. While queuing on, pay special attention to those people near you, especially those who are using mobile phones with cameras. Having ended the operation put the check into your wallet, do not throw it out.

2. In case someone did steal your credit card, report this to the issuer or the bank. Moreover, it is preferable if you report the accident to the police. This should be done, since the police have to report to all local companies. These companies, in turn, being warned, should not accept these plastics. Take into consideration that a stealer uses the plastic during a few hours after theft, and then just throws it out. Note that sales outlets with self-service complicate this situation, since there are no employees who request identification or examine a credit card for robbery.

3. Do not ever leave your bag or wallet. Guard your personal information! Do not take your plastic with you if it is not really necessary. As far as possible, do not pass the information through e-mail, since it is extremely insecure. And guard your PIN code!

4. Inform your bank or issuer immediately in case of theft. Save all the checks and receipts when you carry out an operation involving an ATM. Do not ever write the number of your plastic on checks! Abolish old plastics and financial documentation which you do not need anymore right away. Check monthly reports. Do not ever give the numbers of your plastics and settlement accounts to unknown persons. Do not leave checks in ATMs and filling stations. And, as far as possible, use direct deposit.

5. After you report of the theft it is reasonable to get a substitute of your credit card along with new account numbers. Certainly, it is also reasonable to close your "old" account. The Secret Service also recommends keeping the book for the discussions of thefts, frauds, and falsification with the authorities and financial organizations.

6. To understand the scheme of the fraud involving your credit card you should take into consideration and understand completely some fundamental moments. First, a plastic itself does not contain money. Your account does, and a plastic is just an access key to your money. Second, a bank regards it only as a physical carrier of your details, and thus an ATM, for instance, processes the information and transmits it to the bank. Consequently, a fake credit card will work just like a real one. Third, physical presence of a plastic is not necessary. Quite often it is enough for a swindler to get your data and set them manually to carry out an operation.

Remember these things. It will help you to avoid some really serious problems. And be careful and watchful all the time!